Happy Cesar Chavez Day! Today, as the revered union leader is honored by state decree, it’s only appropriate to reflect upon how unions have “benefited” our state and then carefully consider the latest union push for increased power.
I think it’s fair to say that organized labor is one of the greatest hindrances to the free market today. The auto industry probably wouldn’t count Barack Obama as one of its CEOs right now if not for the United Auto Workers’ (UAW) crippling contracts. A competitive education system might actually produce well-educated, over-achieving students if not for the California Teachers Association’s (CTA) deep pockets (filled with mandatory dues) stifling any attempt at reform.
Originally designed as a means of protecting the powerless against severe work conditions, unions have themselves become the oppressors, placing the political interest of leadership before the long-term good of those they purport to represent. The clearest example of this unbridled lust for power is the current push for the so-called “Employee Free Choice Act.” (Funny how government always chooses a cheery misnomer in its attempt to hoodwink the public.) In fact, the EFCA is anything but “free choice” for employees.
By requiring employees at a business considering unionization to sign a card signifying their assent, and thereby abolishing secret ballot, employees are guaranteed to have no choice at all. Employees will be bullied and harassed into “consenting” to the union formation. By default, unions would be established whenever and wherever they choose; businesses would be at the mercy of organized labor and their restrictive, burdensome contracts.
Recognizing this attack on their businesses and employees’ freedom, large companies such as Costco, Starbucks and Whole Foods (hardly conservative-leaning companies) have tried to head off the union dominance created by the EFCA. And now it appears that even moderate-to-liberal senators are expressing reservations about the EFCA. California’s own senator, Diane Feinstein, seems to have recognized that in a weak economy, union control will only hamper the free market. According to the LA Times, “Feinstein, a past sponsor of the act, cited the flailing economy as a reason” for withdrawing her support. A Californian can only hope that other Democrats in the state’s congressional delegation will join Feinstein in her reasonable, enlightened conclusion.
The Golden State has already become one of the most inhospitable places to do business; EFCA would only make matters worse. As they honor their union hero Cesar Chavez today, Democrat legislators should consider the freedom of the working class voters they supposedly champion. Just as every voter has the freedom of a secret ballot in selecting our representatives, so too employees deserve the freedom of a secret ballot in selecting their leadership.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.
April 1st, 2009 at 12:00 am
Enjoyed your clear, concise analysis as always.