Big Labor's Agenda Is Bad for U.S. Workers and the Economy
An emboldened labor movement is pushing an aggressive activist agenda that would impose new and costly regulations on businesses, disrupt the way businesses are run, and stifle the U.S. economy. This agenda may be good for union bosses and the grab for power, but it's bad for U.S. competitiveness, bad for our economy, and bad for American workers.
While the U.S. Chamber strongly supports the right of workers to voluntarily join unions under fair and democratic rules, and we work closely with unions on issues such as infrastructure, energy, and immigration, we are determined to thwart bad policy.
Some Unions Are Pushing an Agenda That Interferes With the Way Businesses Work
Union bosses have a bold and sweeping agenda to:
Overregulate the American workplace and reunionize our economy.
Orchestrate attacks on well-run, well-managed companies.
Exploit the clout of their union-controlled pension funds to push for changes in the proxy process and control the boardrooms of our best companies.
Exercise their political power to promote trade isolationism, tax increases, and massive government intervention in health care.
This agenda would drive away jobs and hurt America's competitiveness.
Standing Up to Labor—Stopping Card Check Legislation and Other Bad Policies
The U.S. Chamber is determined to block labor's legislative initiatives, expose abusive pension fund schemes, and oppose abusive union organizing tactics and state laws that pressure companies to unionize.
Preventing the passage of card check legislation is the Chamber's top priority. Labor has won approval of the House of Representatives for this measure, which would do away with time-honored secret ballots for union organizing elections. This legislation would lead to worker intimidation and abuse, and the U.S. Chamber has successfully blocked this union power grab in the Senate.
We're also mobilizing our grassroots, lobbying, and financial resources to oppose a radical agenda in Congress to rewrite our nation's employment laws that would:
Restrict flexibility in the workplace.
Expand liability and damages under federal employment-related laws.
Add new criminal penalties under safety and health laws.
Eliminate arbitration.
Mandate new paid leave requirements.
Chamber Assets Dedicated to Unions
Labor, Immigration, and Employee Benefits Division
The Labor, Immigration & Employee Benefits Division facilitates the use of policy committees composed of Chamber members that formulate and analyze the Chamber's policy in the areas of labor law, immigration, pension and health care. The Division regularly interacts with Congressional staff, numerous Federal agencies and many national coalitions (some of which are chaired by the Chamber) to help define and shape national labor, immigration and employee benefit policy.
The U.S. Chamber recently launched the Workforce Freedom Initiative, a comprehensive grassroots and education program to stop card check and defeat labor’s anti-growth, anti-competitive agenda. We are rallying state and local chambers in key areas; holding fly-ins, meetings, and conferences around the country; and doing paid and earned media to educate lawmakers and the public about what’s at stake.
Help Protect Freedom and Privacy in Your Workplace
Unions are gathering 1 million signatures on a petition demanding that Congress pass Card Check and get rid of secret ballot elections. Your elected officials need to hear your voice, too!
Yes, I agree with the Chamber that the ability of a worker to make an informed, confidential decision about a critical matter affecting their workplace should not be compromised. Card Check is bad policy for the American worker and should be opposed.
Save Workers' Secret Ballot: Resources
Organized labor is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into a 2008 campaign to elect a "filibuster-proof Senate" that will rubber-stamp Card Check legislation next year. Your representatives in Congress need to hear your voice, too. Call, write or visit your Senators and Member of Congress, and urge them to oppose Card Check. Tell your friends and neighbors about the issue, and consider writing a letter to your local newspaper.
