Anti-union corporate front group claims guilt by association in Illinois Governor scandal

December 17, 9:04 AMDC Special Interests ExaminerRon Moore

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Rick Berman, a notorious union-buster is at it again. This time he's attempting to make an anti-union case out of the scandal in Illinois by implicating the Service Employees International Union. The Governor's attempts to leverage his power to appoint a Senate successor to President-elect Barack Obama failed and all evidence suggests that his attempts to win favors from any labor group were rejected. Berman's group The Center for Union Facts has launched an advertising campaign linking union leaders to the Governor. The Center for Union Facts is a front group supported by corporate sponsors who refuse to be identified. This rhetorical drive-by allow employers who wish to prevent their workers from exercising their union rights to suggest that if they organized their dues may be misappropriated.

Union-busting became a corporate tactic after President Ronald Reagan fired the PATCO air traffic controllers in the 1980's. Prior to Reagan's actions it was anathema to cross picket lines and the union movement was considered the reason for the rise of the American middle class. Since then firms have advised employers on "union avoidance" techniques such as terminating union supporters and holding one-on-one meetings with employees suggesting dire consequences if workers organize. The SEIU has succeeded in recent years by pressuring employers to respect the wishes of their workers and allowing a simple "card check" to determine the outcome of a union organizing drive. The Employee Free Choice Act will codify SEIU's success by making it a legally protected right in the workplace. By securing the signatures of a majority of workers employers will be requried to negotiate with their employees who will then vote in a secret ballot for or against the contract. No union exists at the worksite until a contract is agreed upon by the workers. It is SEIU's success like the recent agreement with Wackenhut, that has anti-union organizations attempting to smear SEIU and its more than 2 million members. In a statement released yesterday in response to this latest attack SEIU President Andy Stern stated:

"At a time when most Americans are concerned about turning around our economy, putting people back to work, and keeping families in their homes, Rick Berman and his anonymous big corporate donors and CEO's who have crippled the American economy have once again chosen to side against the American people.  Berman and the mysterious donors whose identities he refuses to disclose attempted-and failed-to mislead voters before the election and their smear tactic of guilt by association to try to distract people from the real issues will fail again.   Americans are hungry for solutions, and SEIU will continue working with President-Elect Obama, the new Congress and activists all around this country to help bring change that works to America." Andy Stern, SEIU President

 Clearly the fight over the EFCA will be an early test of the new administration, not as a payback for union workers but as a demonstration that union support for Obama indicated that he supported them.