Big Labor’s Rollercoaster of Emotions

The unfortunate and untimely passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has Big Labor bosses and their liberal political allies cheering. Scalia would have been the decisive vote in a major Supreme Court decision affecting labor unions scheduled for this June (see Why Antonin Scalia was a jurist of colossal consequence). Justice Scalia’s influence would have impacted big labor and the union bosses, as he most likely would have voted in favor of union members in the Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. The case involves a California teacher who claims her First Amendment rights have been violated by having to pay union dues, even though she isn’t a member of the union. This matter was further chronicled in a previous blog, Will the Supreme Court undo the damage done to the rights of millions of government workers?

Such a defeat would have been a death spiral for Public Sector Unions and most likely private sector unions as well, including their political allies. Without a replacement for Scalia, the vote could end up in a tie, considering the Supreme Court is now divided evenly — four liberal justices and four conservative justices. In the event of a tie, the decision of the lower court continues to stand.  In this case, the Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the labor unions.

Despite the fact President Obama will push for a quick replacement for Scalia, likely an extreme liberal candidate, which would tilt the Supreme Court to the left, and unions don’t technically even need this appointment, as they are currently in position to Win by Default. Unfortunately, this could also be devastating to Christian businesses in America. Without Scalia’s vote, cases involving Religious Beliefs and Christian Values may swing against such businesses due to a likely liberal selection by the President.

Big Labor’s cheering will be somewhat dampened by the news that West Virginia just voted to become the 26th Right-To-Work (RTW) State, effective July 1, 2016. West Virginia makes the fourth state to pass RTW legislation in the last 4 years –along with Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. It is obvious that the country is moving in a new direction and that there is actually a movement for National RTW Legislation. This recent development, combined with the fact that Democrats may lose the 2016 Presidential Election and continue to be the congressional minority, has the big labor bosses crying! Undoubtedly, they will be a Major Presence in the 2016 Elections, as both they and the Democratic Party face extinction if they lose this Election.

It is imperative that the American public on both sides of the aisle wake up and urge the Supreme Court liberals not to vote along party lines! We cannot allow big labor bosses and their allies — Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and President Obama — to continue to build their socialistic/communistic agenda in an attempt to destroy the American Republic and its political system. All Americans must realize that ultimately The Great Pretender Wants Control along with the big labor bosses and far left radicals, who simply don’t know how to function in a free market republic!

I often experience flashbacks of the SEIU attacks made against my company when watching Hillary, Bernie and President Obama speak. They are using the same misguided promises, false information, lies, rhetoric and intimidation tactics the SEIU utilized when attempting to force unionize my employees, as chronicled in The Devil at Our Doorstep! It is imperative that a Supreme Court decision is not made in favor of big labor as a result of Scalia’s death, because it would Save Union Political Power at a time when our country is effectively heading towards collapse. This President and “great pretender” was trained in communist persuasion and his ultimate goal is to destroy America and establish Communism at the Highest Levels!

There is no doubt Scalia’s Death Throws a Wrench in the Bench. However, it is time for Americans from both sides of the aisle to band together, absent political persuasion, to assure that Scalia’s replacement will be one that does not represent political or socialistic/communistic ideology, but rather someone who Defends the Constitution of the United States of America and the future of this great country — as Antonin Scalia notably did for so many years.

The Devil at Our Doorstep: The Movie?

Recently there has been interest in producing a movie about The Devil at Our Doorstep.

The Devil at Our Doorstep is a testimonial to the opportunity provided by American capitalism to all persons — regardless of their race, sex, age, creed, social class, or ethnicity – to those self-determined persons willing to work hard and persevere. It is also a story of those possessing a socialistic ideology who will prey upon successful American entrepreneurs, and the extent they will go to interfere with the system and compromise this “American Dream!” This includes politicians and labor executives at the highest level, who will use their great resources and clout to implement a” bully market system” of intimidation, threats and misinformation to achieve their goals.

The Devil at Our Doorstep recounts how an average person succeeded in creating a prosperous company providing good jobs through hard work, integrity, common sense, determination and perseverance, only to be maliciously attacked by Big Labor in an attempt to force it to comply with its agenda. The unscrupulous labor leaders utilize “any means necessary” to accomplish their goals through the utilization of bought-and-paid-for politicians, ideological/bribed clergy, intimidated media, innocent children, radical government agencies, employee and customer intimidation, threat of financial ruin and psychological warfare in an attempt to destroy the “American Dream!”

While most major companies in the industry capitulate to the radical demands of big labor, and in the process stripped employees of their American right to a private election to determine if they wished to be represented by a union, this company decided that their only choice was to confront the threat head-on and fight back!

Ultimately, the victory – achieved in spite of the union’s “death by a thousand cuts” tactics – is a victory for all Americans who believe that America is the land of opportunity, providing life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The great basketball player Michael Jordan very succinctly summed up the opportunity for success and personal self-determination America provides for all:

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

– Michael Jordan

The Devil at Our Doorstep pulls back the curtains on the corrupt Service Employees International Union (“SEIU”) and on big labor’s agenda by utilizing stories from union members, such as “Mariam the Mighty” (still fighting today, see Occupy SEIU), and others to reveal the corruption of big labor’s use of member dues for political purposes and programs to exert control over the American way of life! Policies and programs with which the members vehemently disagree and have set the stage for support of Right-To-Work laws. It exposes the mainstream media’s support and acquiescence to Big Labor due to either philosophical agreement or fear of retaliation against their advertisers and subsequent loss of revenues, as happened with FOX News and Glenn Beck (see Glenn Beck and Republicans). It unveils the training of the current President by the SEIU (see Obama and the SEIU, Sittin’ in a Tree), and the essential support provided by big labor to the President’s socialistic agenda, including Obamacare (see Is Obamacare Redistributing Wealth to Big Labor?).

Testimonials are provided by clergy members, who originally stood with the union, but who finally woke up to the misinformation and intimidation of the SEIU; as well as from brave employees caught in the middle, who surfaced to stem the tide and help challenge the union by exposing the true purpose of the big labor bullies’ attacks. Self-Preservation by the forced unionization of employees for the sole purpose of dues money to revitalize its membership and exert political/governmental control over all Americans! These events, combined with efforts to utilize the SEIU’s own tactics professionally against them, changed the tide of the war and the once aggressive SEIU began to crawl back under its rock.

As the war escalated and moved to the final round in Washington D.C., the constitutional foundations of a true “Republic” surfaced to defeat those who would destroy American Exceptionalism. However, The Devil at Our Doorstep stands firm as a dire warning that the battle in the shadows still continues to this day.

Rank and File Union Membership Post Victories!

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) issued its decision in the matter of Harris v. Quinn. In its decision not to exempt all public workers from paying union dues, it was nevertheless apparent that workers were handed a victory over unions (see Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Challengers to Union Fees, But Avoids Broad Ruling and Workers were Handed a Victory Over Unions). In a 5-4 ruling following political lines, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that just because home healthcare workers received Medicaid payments they were not employees of a government agency and subject to forced unionism or required to pay dues because of supposed union representation. The irony of this is that many of the home healthcare workers are independent contractors, not state workers, who have been forced to pay forced union dues because of the SEIU’s close political ties to former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.  It could have been much worse for organized labor if SCOTUS had determined, as it should have, that no public employees should be forced to be part of the union or pay union affiliation/representation fees. Due to the narrow ruling, Big Labor was able to Dodge a Bullet with SCOTUS!

The decision of SCOTUS in Harris v. Quinn will ultimately cost the SEIU an estimated $50 Million in lost revenue. The SEIU recently took a similar hit when the Michigan legislature repealed a law similar to that in question in Harris v. Quinn (see SEIU Shows It Is Not About Employee Free Choice). The SEIU has been reaping large dues payments in states like California, as discussed in It’s All About the Dues Money. This decision will result in a significant drop in dues income, designed to line its pockets and support its political buddies. Make no mistake, this decision will have a profound affect on Big Labor’s ability to support its political allies with funds and foot soldiers in the November 2014 Election.

Monday’s ruling is only the beginning of a conundrum facing Big Labor. Rank and file members across the country are fed up with Big Labor using their dues payments for political activities with which they disagree. Throughout the month of June, disgruntled SEIU and UAW members in California and Michigan have been on a mission to have “Non Germaine Objector” (NGO) dues removed from the monthly dues being deducted from their paychecks. If successful, these reductions would decrease dues, and subsequently SEIU and UAW revenues by reportedly 35%. Brave members, such as Mariam Noujaim and Lisa Garcia, whose stories are chronicled in The Devil at Our Doorstep, and Brian Pannbecker, a cofounder of Union Conservatives, the organization responsible for the grass roots effort for Michigan become the 24th Right-To-Work State, have led the charge in these highly unionized states. Their efforts are further documented at www.occupyseiu.com and www.unionconservatives.com.

These bold actions, by responsible rank and file members of the SEIU and the UAW, as well as Harris and her band of home healthcare workers, will significantly affect the Big Labor Gasping Dinosaurs and their Symbiotic Relationship that Short Changes Americans! These brave hero’s victories will undoubtedly be evident as Administration and Big Labor Desperation Escalates prior to the 2014 Mid Term Elections.

Reprise: Buyer’s Remorse over Obamacare?

In last year’s blog, The Devil is in the Details: Buyer’s Remorse over Obamacare, Except for SEIU, Big Labor’s dissatisfaction with Obamacare was exposed. The exception being the SEIU, who was allowed to be the architect of the Affordable Care Act as repayment for its role in the President’s 2008 Election. There has been little written about labor union’s dissatisfaction with Obamacare. Big Labor’s Gasping Dinosaurs, however, have not been vocal or shown visible support of Obamacare, especially during this time when the President has proclaimed the program’s success. This success has been attributed to 8 million people having signed up — despite the fact approximately 6 million people lost their private health care and that same 8 million is no where close to the 30 million uninsured Obamacare was supposed to cover.

It now appears many of the Big Labor bosses are experiencing buyer’s remorse! As Obamacare becomes a reality, many of the unions are demanding government subsidies to remain competitive at a time when membership is at a historical low. Only 11.3% of the total workforce and 6.3% of the private sector work force are unionized. Apparently most Big Labor bosses forgot the basic fundamental premise “Caveat Empetor” – meaning “let the buyer beware” – when supporting the President’s re-election campaign and backing his signature law, Obamacare (see Some Unions Grow Wary of Health Law They Backed). Evidently those astute business people bought in to Nancy Pelosi’s famous quote, “We must pass the bill so we can find out what’s in it!” Well, that is true for most Big Labor bosses, except for those at the SEIU.

Recently big labor bosses have received a new wake up call, as those collective bargaining contracts signed before Obamacare was put into law are now expiring, and they are facing a new hurdle of deciding whether to negotiate increased health care costs due to Obamacare mandates such as dependent children must be kept on their parents health insurance until age 26 as well as increased future costs for premium plans and other mandates as chronicled in Unions, employers square off over ObamaCare costs, or to continue to press for employee wage increases as they have traditionally done. Unions, including the SEIU, representing housekeepers, transit workers, flight attendants and more are waking up to the fact that their buddy in the White House steamrolled them, just as he has in his support of climate change and rejection of the keystone pipeline (as chronicled in Obama and NLRB Continue to Cost Union Jobs).

Ironically, the SEIU was the President’s major supporter for the Democratic Presidential Nomination in 2008. In fact, Andy Stern, then President of the SEIU, made it very clear that the SEIU would not support any candidate that would not make universal health care its primary objective during the first term of office. Then Presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, leapt on board, knowing full well he not only needed the financial support of the largest union in the country, but also its vaunted ground game! Although his campaign was supported by the other unions, all of which also supported universal health care, the devil was in the details. When the SEIU saw an opportunity, they took it.

The difference between the SEIU and the other major players now wary of Obamacare, unions such as the Teamsters, AFL-CIO, Unite Here, The Sheet Metal Workers International, International Union of Operating Engineers and others, is that the SEIU represents a majority of unionized workers in the U.S. health care industry! The SEIU not only represents nurses, orderlies and other medical personnel at healthcare facilities, but also other important and necessary support positions at these facilities such as janitors, security personnel and food service workers. Additionally, the SEIU represents home health care workers and health insurance employees in many states (see Is Obamacare Redistributing Wealth to Big Labor?).

Universal health care was envisioned as a veritable jackpot by the SEIU as the positions mentioned previously would expand exponentially with the projected 30 million new Americans on health care, and to date, are looking at a net increase of approximately 2 million. This would have served as a means to substantially increase the SEIU’s membership and subsequent revenues from dues in a relatively short period of time. What a let down for the SEIU! Of course that bonanza also meant increased political donations and ground game foot soldiers for the President and the Democratic Party. Everyone thought the President was only pushing for Obamacare because he believed in “social justice” and cared about the millions of people who supposedly had no access to health care, but as many of the Big Labor bosses are now realizing, the “narcissist-in-chief” only cares about one person, himself!

Incidentally, it is common knowledge that very rarely were people turned down care at emergency facilities and that Medicaid was already available for those in need, obviously one of the major reasons Medicaid was insolvent. Don’t misunderstand; it is important that affordable health care be available to all Americans who wish to be covered. However, available coverage for all could have been achieved through allowing freedom of choice, and not a mandate. As for affordability, we could have accomplished this feat by removing barriers to the free market, utilizing ideas to eliminate restrictions on competition across state lines, developing legislation for tort reform and producing meaningful modifications to the immigration laws. Unfortunately, this common sense style approach does not work for the President, liberal democrats or unions like the SEIU, who all depend upon each other for survival. America can only hope the uninformed electorate wakes up before the 2014 Mid Term Elections to see that the President and his liberal supporters will run over their own supporters (i.e. union members) and will continue to run over the American people until they achieve their ultimate goal of totalitarianism.

Don’t be surprised if the President and his Administration don’t reverse field in an attempt to find a way to placate the currently disenfranchised big labor bosses before the 2014 Mid Term Elections, where maintaining a majority in the Senate is imperative to both the Administration and the big labor bosses. After all, it is vital that they keep the circular money pump in motion in order to stay in power and avoid extinction, no matter the expense to the American people, including rank and file union members. Maybe Americans will begin to feel a similar sense of buyer’s remorse and wake up to the fact this President, with his eloquent prose, will promise people what they want to obtain their vote and the next minute run over them with a steamroller. He and his major supporters like the SEIU have no ethics or integrity and only care about their socialistic agenda and ultimate survival. America, before you go to the polls this November remember, “Caveat Empetor!”

SEIU Shows It Is Not About Employee Free Choice!

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), arguably the most ardent proponent of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), continues to demonstrate the hypocrisy of its true motives through its tactics and political machinations. The political maneuvering of the SEIU and its big labor brethren show that they do not have employee best interests at heart, and that their ultimate objective has nothing to do with employee free choice (see SEIU’s Insidious Tentacles). In fact, it’s the SEIU’s continued tactics, such as this past week’s fast food worker strikes that show why it is a Charade and proves once again that big labor’s Only Concern is for Dues.

Unlike past “protests,” the SEIU’s push in Fast Food Forward received little news coverage. Clearly, people around the country are waking up to the SEIU’s schemes and the truth that there are relatively few employees who are embracing its forced unionism scheme. As reported in the articles above, very few employees are participating and the majority of strikers are paid non-employees recruited to make misleading claims and intimidate fast food employers and their employees much like the Death by a Thousand Cuts tactics chronicled in The Devil at Our Doorstep.

“Death by a Thousand Cuts” is a form of psychological intimidation used by labor unions against employers. Often it involves utilizing supposed employees as pawns in an attempt to force unionize employees who are not interested in what the SEIU has to sell through Card Check. This is labor’s end game in the Fast Food Forward initiative. It is not about helping employees make more money, but rather increasing the SEIU’s membership roles., Despite the representations of big labor and its liberal supporters, the SEIU is not a knight in shining armor, but quite the opposite.

Like most unions in the country, the SEIU continues to experience loss of membership and, consequently, the loss of revenue in the form of membership dues. As a result of these losses, the SEIU and like-minded unions are resorting to the use of Corporate Campaigns against companies (as well as governments agencies and entities) in order to force unionize employees and increase flagging membership. The SEIU recently experienced such a loss as 80 percent of these forced “union members” dropped out of SEIU in Michigan. This tremendous loss of revenue is estimated at $34 Million per year (see SEIU Membership Revenues Plummet After State Ends Underhanded Scheme). Additionally, the SEIU is facing significant loss of membership/revenues in California and other parts of the country, just as the other big labor unions are experiencing similar losses.

In a desperate attempt to offset these losses, the SEIU has continued to turn to and to utilize the same tactics that have proven to be ineffective in the past (see SEIU Deploys Top-Down Organizing Tactics against California Hospitals). The SEIU is attempting to force unionize home health care workers in Illinois as chronicled in SEIU’s Hair on Fire. This despite its previous defeat of similar laws in other states — the state of Michigan, for example, just overturned the same law that allowed forced unionism of home healthcare workers.

Despite these efforts, employees across the nation are waking up to the SEIU’s motives. They are voting with their feet as verified by the lack of employee involvement in this past weeks “Fight for Fifteen,” and by home health care workers dropping out of the SEIU when provided the opportunity in Michigan. You would think the SEIU would learn that if it wants to reverse its fortunes it is going to have to develop a product that employees and employers can buy into instead of using intimidation tactics. Isn’t the definition of “insanity” to repeat the same things over and over again, with the same failed results? Maybe the SEIU should ask the question What Happens When You Give Workers a Choice? While the SEIU would not grow as a fast as it would like in order to achieve its socialistic political agenda, it would truly be serving the employees – which is supposed to be mission of the labor unions. This is not likely and employees will continue to see the SEIU’s “Persuasion of Power” and its reliance on its “Puppet” in the white House (see Obama and the SEIU, Sittin’ in a Tree) to press for regulatory means to bail them out of their desperate condition. It’s not good for the employees, but why would Big Labor start caring about them now? What we need in this country is an Employee Rights Act that would make unions accountable to members.

It’s All About the Dues Money!

I have repeatedly stressed the fact that today’s big labor bosses care little about the rank and file membership and are only interested in the dues money they can collect to line their own pockets and use for political persuasion. This has surfaced more the past several weeks and is worth highlighting as we approach the 2014 Mid-Term Elections.

First, almost a year ago, my company began negotiations with the UAW after they won a secret ballot election at a plant we clean in the south. Kudos to the UAW for honoring the secret ballot election process, after their request for a Neutrality Agreement was politely declined. Negotiations were scheduled and, after brief introductions at the first meeting, the UAW negotiators made the point they had researched my company and did not wish to engage in any animosity during the negotiations. A point to which we concurred.

Immediately following, the local president requested “good wages and benefits” for the members. Knowing the prior company had been organized by the UAW, our attorney presented a copy and asked if the wages and benefits in that agreement were acceptable. Upon receiving confirmation from them that they were, I politely made the observation that our company’s wages and benefits were comparable or better to which they agreed. When asked if they had any other demands the other negotiator requested a recognition paragraph, recognizing the UAW as the exclusive representative of the employees. We agreed to this, as they did win the election.

At that point we presented two requests. The first was that a paragraph be inserted underneath the recognition agreement explaining that the state of Tennessee had a “Right-To-Work” law and that the employees could opt out of paying union dues if they so desired. The negotiator look surprised, squirmed in his seat, and said “What else?” I explained we would not agree to a “Check Off” clause, which requires the company to deduct union dues from the employees’ paychecks and send it to the union. The eyes of the negotiator and the local’s president became as wide as saucers. The negotiator responded, “I have my marching orders that has to be in the contract.” I stated that the company would not accept such a provision as it presented potential liability, and that we were not going to be the union’s accounting firm. The negotiator closed his notebook and they both stood up and said they would schedule another meeting in the future. To date we have not met with them again. Obviously, it is all about the money. Furthermore, despite the length of time since our last meeting, the employees are happy!

A second incident involved the Operating Engineers Union Local 324 in Michigan. Evidently, the RTW law that became effective about one year ago is not setting well with them as they have announced publishing a Quarterly “Freeloaders” List  of those who opt-out of union membership, including the name and place of employment of those persons. Proof once again that big labor has no interest in the rights and welfare of American workers, but only in “union power” and the money that makes it happen — “Dues” from members’ paychecks! Interestingly, the Operating Engineers Union in Northwest Indiana filed suit to have RTW in Indiana found unconstitutional, under the theory that it forces them to represent people who do not pay dues. The case is currently pending with the Indiana Supreme Court.

The third story revolves around “forced unionization” and dues collection from home health care workers in several states across the country, notably including those in the U.S. Supreme court case Harris vs. Quinn currently being reviewed. This case stems from the SEIU attempting to force unionize Home Health Care Workers in the state of Illinois regardless of whether they are interested or not in joining the union.   Apparently, Illinois law allows the SEIU to organize family members and owners of home health care organizations based on the premise that the people providing care receive reimbursement through Medicaid or Medicare. It is apparent that the SEIU is nervous about losing the pending SCOTUS decision as they are now trying to force unionize home health care workers in California, who were merely paying union dues to the SEIU without being formal members of the union (see Are SEIU Union Bosses in a Panic after SCOTUS heard Harris v. Quinn? Looks Like it.). The SEIU obviously only cares about the money as they were absconding it from home health care workers without providing any representation or benefit in exchange.

Next, in a display of Big Whopper Economics, unions now believe the reason employees in fast food restaurants don’t get paid more is because the franchisees don’t have a decision- making voice in pricing of products which determines employee wages and benefits. Big labor’s solution is that the franchisees should rebel against the corporations like McDonalds and organize their own union to deal with corporations for decision-making capabilities. Sounds like another big labor attempt at organizing more people for the sake of money!

Finally, the United Steel Workers want to organize college football players at Northwestern University. Kain Colter, the quarterback at Northwestern University, has been hoodwinked into trying to organize college athletes, saying the NCAA is a dictatorship and the athletes have no control over compensation or safety (see College athletes take step toward forming union). He conveniently forgets that he received a free college education and other benefits worth well over $30,000/year, as well as future support by the college in finding employment. This is obviously another desperate ploy by the Gasping Dinosaurs  to increase membership roles and increase the sacred cow “membership dues” to line their own pockets and use to gain political power.

It would appear that these acts of desperation occurring all at once are mere coincidence, however, the fact that the country is fast approaching the 2014 Mid-Term Elections, with polls showing potential loss of the U.S. Senate by Democrats and Republicans maintaining the U.S. House majority, big labor bosses can foresee ultimate extinction descending rapidly. Why else would they be “The elephant in the political spending room” while accusing people like the Koch Bothers of dominating political contributions, when big labor contributes 15 times what the Koch Brothers do (see Letter: What does the left hate the Koch brothers so much)? Simply put, it is all about future dues money to line their own pockets and continue political power!

SEIU Exposed in Ft. Lauderdale with Help from “The Devil at Our Doorstep”

This past week, Florida Watchdog reporter Marianela Toledo wrote a superb article exposing the propaganda and tactics utilized by the SEIU in conducting a campaign to organize workers at the Ft. Lauderdale International Airport (see SEIU moves to organize Fort Lauderdale airport workers). I previously became acquainted with Marianela when I took interest in a prior article of hers, Labor unions have some wild ideas about ‘work’.  I sent Marianela an e-mail praising her fortitude and the quality of her work.  Thereafter, she sent me an email requesting a discussion of my personal experiences. We spoke on the telephone and I explained to her my thoughts on the SEIU’s true motives, and the strategies they used in their organizing tactics to accomplish these motives.

I also sent Marianela a copy of my book, The Devil at Our Doorstep, in hopes that it would provide insight into the SEIU’s efforts and to provide context as to that which she and the residents of Broward County were witnessing. Marianela performed her own investigation into the SEIU’s actions with respect to workers at the Fort Lauderdale Airport based on what she was able to learn about the SEIU. Her investigation exposed the SEIU tactics, and misrepresentation made by its local SEIU business manager. The investigation found that the SEIU had coerced some of the employees into filing claims with the Department of Transportation and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, including claims that employees were made to clean up urine, blood and vomit without proper safety equipment such as gloves or masks and employees were not adequately trained to properly clean potentially hazardous waste.

While Marianela did not receive a response from OSHA or the DOL, the Department of Transportation released a statement that “the [SEIU’s] allegations regarding the insufficiency of training by Complainants are not supported by the evidence, see the DOT’s Response. Further, the DOT found, “The Complaint is misleading and meritless. The Enforcement Office has, therefore, determined that any further investigation into the Complainants’ allegations is unjustified and unnecessary.” Despite the DOT’s findings, the SEIU’s spokesman, Allen, in typical SEIU fashion, said in response to the DOT’s letter that, “We didn’t do anything malicious or misleading with the information that we got.”

To Mr. Allen, I say “Balderdash!”  The SEIU actions were straight out of their playbook.  They did what they always do, and then misrepresent themselves afterward! The scenario played out above is similar to tactics used against my company – as chronicled in The Devil at Our Doorstep – when the SEIU filed a complaint in Cincinnati, Ohio that our employees at a local college were forced to dispose of human body parts in bags every night, despite the fact it was not a medical school and cadavers were not present! OSHA dismissed the SEIU’s complaint in that matter, as well.

Marianela concluded her article with excerpts from our interview combined with stories from my book, which was highlighted in the article. Additionally, she tied the SEIU tactics described in my book to the U.S. Supreme Court case involving Martin Mulhall., Mr. Mulhall, an employee of  Mardi Gras, became so incensed at the Unite Here union’s bullying tactics, that he filed a suit against the union that made it to the U.S. Supreme Court and was supported in an amicus brief by my first book The Devil at My Doorstep, as chronicled in “The Devil at My Doorstep” Introduced to the Supreme Court.

Interestingly enough, no one has mentioned whether the SEIU is demanding these contractors sign a Neutrality Agreement, which eliminates the secret ballot election process and reverts to Card Check. However, one has to surmise that the Death by a Thousand Cuts tactics revealed by Marianela and rejected by the DOT are intended to force the contractors to do just as the SEIU tried to do to my company.

Marianela wrote a great article and we need more journalists like her to throw out their political bent, stand up for American freedoms and expose the true bullies in America. Marianela was very kind and supportive in her review of my book The Devil at Our Doorstep. In fact her comments in a follow-up e-mail were: “Once again, thank you for your time, and the book. I enjoyed reading it, and appreciate your words in the dedication.”

Honestly, I had to go back and reread the dedication, and when I did it brought tears to my eyes. Yes, I am somewhat prejudice because it is my book, but it speaks to what is happening in America today under this Administration, supported by the big labor Gasping Dinosaurs. It is truly time for all Americans to find intestinal fortitude and stand up and punch the bullies in the nose to Restore America’s Prosperity before all is lost!

NLRB Flexes Muscles

After a period of relative quiet, a recent flurry of rulemaking initiatives by the the National Labor Relations Board evidences the Obama Administration’s intent on satisfying its big labor buddies leading up to the crucial 2014 mid-term elections. The following briefs illustrate the President’s desperation to satisfy big labor demands  so that he and the Democratic party can count on their financial and ground game support this November (see Labor Unions: Stagnant Membership Shows Need for Labor Law Modernization).

Ambush Election Rules

The NLRB originally adopted this rule in 2011,  but the D.C. Circuit Court rejected the rule on procedural grounds, finding that the NLRB had improperly issued the rule because they did not have a quorum. Member Brian Hayes was active in office, but did not vote on passage of the rule).  Initially, the NLRB appealed the Circuit Court’s decision.  In December 2013, however, the Board requested that the court dismiss the appeal.   It was generally presumed by those following the NLRB that the reason for doing this was to clear the slate and “start over.” It appears that’s what is being done. On February 6, 2014, the NLRB issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking reissuing their proposed “Ambush Election” rules in substantially the same form as the 2011 proposal.

Among other things, the rulemaking: (i) narrows the scope of pre-election hearings (wont consider campaign irregularities, eligibility to vote, etc.), (ii) shortens the timeframe prior to election, and (iii) gives the Board discretion over whether to hear post-election disputes (whether they would be heard at all).

The underlying goal of this rule is to achieve Card Check  under the guise of an election process. In effect, big labor would indoctrinate employees through misinformation, propaganda and intimidation months ahead of petitioning for an election. Employers, under the new rule, would theoretically then have as little as 10 days to reverse the indoctrination, which based on my experience is almost impossible! This is just another step towards Card Check through Regulation vs. Legislation! Please read Obama’s NLRB deals big labor a winning hand: part 1 and National Labor Relations Board Pauses from Election Rules Amendments.

Revision of Arbitration Rules

The board is considering a proposal of radical NLRB General Counsel Richard Griffin to change the way the Board considers the decisions of arbitrators in labor matters under the NLRA. In essence, in a situation in which an employer and a union or employee had agreed to utilize an arbitrator to resolve disputes, the NLRB would be empowered to disregard the arbitrator’s decision if it disagreed with it. This would permit labor unions to have “two bites of the apple” (as used by former NLRB Board Member Ronald Meisburg, to challenge employer action.  Part of the Employee Free Choice Act (see EFCA Through the Backdoor) a.k.a. Card Check this rulemaking would basically tilt the collective bargaining negotiations process heavily in favor of big labor. In reality it is a part of the process to enact Card Check through Regulation vs. Legislation! As the President said he has a pen and a phone and he will act on his own. Obviously, he is also delegating this authority to his appointees like Richard Griffin. Please read NLRB Invites Input On Arbitration Award Deferral Standard.

Micro-Unions

Richard Griffin and his radical pro-union teammates are also intent on establishing “Micro-Unions.” Griffin recently commented that NLRB guidance on micro-unions is forth coming.  The concept of “micro-unions” is an NLRB creation, stemming from its decision in the Specialty Healthcare case. It is nothing more than a ploy to allow unions to establish a foothold in a business with a small segment of employees then turn it into full-scale unionization of all employees within the company (see NLRB General Counsel: Guidance on Micro-Unions is Coming). This particular rule shows just how desperate the administration and big labors Gasping Dinosaurs really are to rebuild dwindling membership.

Basically this all boils down to two things, money and political power. Both the President and the labor bosses need big labor to rebuild its membership so they can enjoy their lavish life styles and maintain political power. It has nothing to do with helping employees or the citizens of this great country the United States of America, the last great hope for the world! America, We are at War! Armageddon is at Hand! Please wake up!!

SEIU’s Hair on Fire?

Despite continuing actions by the SEIU to press forced unionization through their “hair on fire” approach, statistics recently released show continuing stagnant membership for labor unions (see Labor Union Membership Rate Stays Steady in 2013). For employees across the country this means the SEIU will continue the pressure through their “persuasion of power” (see Desperate SEIU Resurrects The Persuasion of Power). Over the past three decades, the SEIU and its big labor brethren have continued to see membership roles drop, and this has continued to be true in recent years as the economy continues to sour and employees become more informed and resistant to what unions have to offer. The fact that they had a year that showed no decline is hardly a breath of fresh air when big labor is continuing to deal with declining revenues, and the fact they desperately need to curry political favors to advance forced unionism, thereby increasing membership roles and corresponding dues. Make no mistake about it that membership growth and member dues are big labor’s priority, as it is all about the big labor lifestyle and political power membership dues fund!

As a result of the lack of union membership growth, the country continues to experience this Persuasion of Power from the nation’s largest and most radical union (see Communism at the Highest Levels). The SEIU’s Insidious Tentacles continue to spread across this great country into every nook and cranny as it seeks to avoid extinction and promote its socialist/communistic agenda with support from the “Puppet” in the White House. In 2012, the SEIU used its members’ union dues and foot soldiers to elect David Bowen to the Milwaukee County Board. Now they have  “assisted” him in writing a minimum wage proposal that would, according to independent accounting sources, cost the county over $27 million dollars, lose out on an estimated $34.5 million in land sales and $11 million in new tax revenue, and cost more than 8,700 new jobs (see Union-influenced minimum wage law in Wisconsin could squash thousands of jobs and Union helps write living wage ordinance that could cost taxpayers millions). Of course, this is all presented in typical SEIU misinformation fashion as providing people with a “living wage,” when the truth is the bill contains.

The proposal, however, offers contracting firms an exemption from the wage hike, but only if their workers are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the employer and a bona fide labor union like the SEIU. Obviously this is no more than a corrupt ploy to recapture revenues that have declined significantly over the last several years. According to IRS tax documents, the Milwaukee SEIU reported revenue of $1,878,513 in 2010, $938,478 in 2011 and $780,923 in 2012. This represents a 60 percent loss in annual revenue in just two years.  Clearly, the union has reached a point of desperation. Remember, “desperate people do desperate things” regardless  of the consequences.

In Illinois, the SEIU  has been attempting to force unionize Home Health Care Workers regardless of whether they are interested in the union or not. The law allows the SEIU to organize family members and owners of home health care organizations based on the premise that the people providing care receive reimbursement through Medicaid or Medicare. As they are government-funded programs, the persons are subject to unionization based on President Kennedy’s 1963 Executive Order allowing public employees to be unionized. It is common sense that the government should not be forcing workers into unions.  A current case before the U.S. Supreme Court will  test this theory (see Supreme Court to hear case on forced unionization and Supreme Court ‘sleeper’ case on union dues has big impact on organized labor).

Finally, with numerous incidents of fraud and embezzlement coming to light, the past month hasn’t been great for the Service Employees. One would think that after SEIU Local 6434 President Tyrone Freeman was just put away for three years, the sticky fingers in the organization would keep their hands in their own pockets…at least for a while. On the contrary, just two months after Freeman’s sentencing, former Local 721 Treasurer Cedric Hughes was indicted for five counts of wire fraud and a count of embezzlement. When questioned about the missing $15,194, Hughes claimed nearly all financial records for the Local’s UUP Chase Account had gone missing. Hughes is the third SEIU official to be charged with embezzling during 2013, proving that an atmosphere of complacency toward corruption is a common thread among SEIU locals.

In other unscrupulous activity, SEIU-UHW’s Myriam Escamilla was caught conducting secret negotiations with an employer, then signing a full contract without even talking to the workers of the facility. Upon being caught, workers forced Escamilla to put the contract to a ballot that was unanimously voted down. Afterward, they decertified SEIU-UHW as their union and joined the National Union of Healthcare Workers. This makes the second time in a month that SEIU-UHW members bailed on their union and voted in the rival NUHW.

Additionally, in California, SEIU is using social media to raise funds for a mural honoring the union, and their claim to have “helped over 200,000 low wage workers, through its “Justice for Janitors” campaign achieve better social and economic standing by campaigning for better wages and healthcare. Conveniently ignoring the fact the SEIU lost, California, SEIU is using social media to raise funds for a mural honoring the union, and their claim to have “helped over 200,000 low wage workers achieve better social and economic standing by campaigning for better wages and healthcare.” Well-known artist Andre Miripolsky is the face of the project, placing a request to raise the $60,000 needed on a “support-an-artist” website service.

These new initiatives and scandals, attacks against Wal-Mart and fast food companies in its “Fight for Fifteen,” combined with the President’s SOTUS agenda, which focused on immigration reform, minimum wage, income inequality and unemployment benefits, conveniently provide the SEIU fodder for increased forced unionization of employees. This only accentuates that America is facing a new year, but the Same Old SEIU and Same Tired Attacks!

“Hair on Fire” is trademarked and held by Barbara Espinosa, and was used with permission.

Common Core, It’s All About Control

Like Obamacare, Common Core is another government debacle, being pressed by far the far left as legislation that, in Nancy Pelosi’s vernacular, “needs to be passed so we can learn what is in it.” Once supported by leading teacher’s unions, such as the National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), many union officials are now questioning its merits. They are also concerned, among other things, of another Obamacare “train wreck” rollout, (see We’re Flying the Common Core Airplane as We’re Building It and Union Joins Opposition to Common Core National Standards and Tests), as well as its merit as an education model. Despite early union support, it appears some union members are beginning to wake up and realize that Common Core may not be what they bargained for, specifically after the Obama Administration had the Department of Education (DOE) publish the draft of this new program.

Titled Promoting Grit, Tenacity and Perseverance, the DOE’s draft, in fact, promotes just the opposite! The program promotes control rather than individuality and achievement.,. In this case, instead of controlling our health, it is intended to brainwash the minds of future generations to continue down the “progressive” path. In essence, they want to make us all sheep – easy to herd and easy to control! This is further expressed in Common Core Uses SEIU Protest to Teach 3rd Graders about ‘Rights and Responsibilities’, where SEIU tactics were taught to young elementary students. It is astonishing to see the lengths this Administration and its union buddies, especially the SEIU, will stoop to try and bring down capitalism and impose it’s  socialistic and communist viewpoints (see Communism at the Highest Levels).

Common Core promotes neither grit, nor tenacity, nor perseverance, but rather compliance and subservience. A friend’s quote is on point regarding Common Core:

“Grit, tenacity, and perseverance’ were things I thought were developed in the home, in church or on the playing field and often translated into the class room or board room.  The thought of institutionalizing the concept, while well intended, strikes me as quite a challenge.  Kind of like a government trying to instill morality and ethics into a society while mocking God as having anything to say on the subject.”

Additionally, there is much speculation about whether the Common Core standards do anything to advance the modern student.  See the Common Core Standards’ Devastating Impact on Literary Study and Analytical Thinking; Is Common Core Leaving Students Unprepared in Math and Science?; Doubts about Common Core ; video of an Arkansas Mom Destroying Common Core.

The preceding press on the subject, along with the questions by teachers’ union leadership, are strong arguments for states to reject Common Core and the federal money the Obama Administration has dangled in front of them to embrace these standards. However, there is something even more persuasive that should be acknowledged . . . the loss of something through Common Core which made this nation great – promoting self determination, self reliance and self esteem… none of which are taught within Common Core (see Common Core Indoctrination: “The People Must Obey The Government’s Commands”).

Obituary of Common Sense

It is Us vs Them and time for all Americans to come together, whether liberal, conservative, union, non-union, regardless of ethnic or religious background. We must join forces to reject this Administration’s agenda of control in time to reverse the The Decline of American Exceptionalism. America needs a resurgence of common sense, not the tyranny of Common Core!