“The Devil at My Doorstep” Introduced to the Supreme Court

This past Friday my first book, The Devil at My Doorstep, was introduced as evidence in a briefing to the United States Supreme Court in the case of Unite Here Local 355 vs. Mulhall (see pages 29-30). The Devil at My Doorstep’s importance is in chronicling the SEIU’s efforts to utilize tactics known as a Corporate Campaign to force the Company to sign a Neutrality Agreement to circumvent a secret ballot election and, ultimately, to force unionize employees.

This brief was filed by attorneys at the law firm of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart on behalf of the Council on Labor Law Equality. The case represents major exposure at a national level to Big Labor for their use of the tactics of “Death by a Thousand Cuts” in their corporate campaign strategies. These strategies are tactics utilized by labor unions against employers (and their employees) every day across this great country, in an effort to force unionize employees. This is being done in a desperate attempt to reverse the Gasping Dinosaurs declining membership roles, in an effort to save them from ultimate extinction. Big Labor is none to happy about this case, nor about the evidence presented in The Devil at My Doorstep and other sources. The AFL-CIO understands how important this case is. While claims in their brief to the Supreme Court are often over-the-top (claims that such a decision would “criminalize arbitration” and “gut” recognitional picketing, for example), the importance of the case is well understood. Indeed, other labor unions, including the Service Employees International Union, are reportedly furious that Unite Here is pursuing this action at the Supreme Court. They understand the dramatic impact an adverse decision could have on their ability to force organize employers and their employees.

In our case, we were ultimately successful in communicating to the appeals court, the NLRB and to clergy members who initially spoke out against us, as documented in the updated The Devil at Our Doorstep, that the representations and tactics of the union were wrongful.  I cannot help but feel that perhaps the word is out. Perhaps the tide is truly turning. Big Labor and its allies are facing increased scrutiny. President Obama’s radical recess appointments to the Rogue NLRB, who are trying to provide big labor Card Check through Regulation vs. Legislation, were found unconstitutional. NLRB administrative law judges are turning their backs on the general counsel’s tendency to pressure companies through prosecution (see Third Judge in a Month Blasts NLRB General Counsel’s Prosecutorial Conduct). Now, this potentially historic case is before the U.S. Supreme Court, where the court has a real Opportunity to Protect Individual Freedoms!

Big Labor is on its heels. A decision against Big Labor in Unite Here Local 355 vs. Mulhall could very well spell the end for Big Labor’s corrupt Death by a Thousand Cuts coercion tactics and, ultimately, for the Gasping Dinosaurs themselves!