The Coming Assault on Small Businesses

By Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce July 22, 2008

You can't say today's union leaders don't appreciate irony. Last week, one of the nation's largest unions held a global rally protesting our system of free enterprise and capital investment. The union called it the "Take Back Our Economy" rally. Well, if it manages to push through its radical agenda, what it will do is "Take Down Our Economy."

In fact, the agenda of a handful of national unions represents a direct assault on America's small businesses. Their top priority is passage of the deceptively name Employee Free Choice Act, commonly referred to as "card check." The bill would make it cost effective for unions to go after Main Street businesses and small retail establishments.

That's because the legislation would eliminate the expense and worker protection of secret ballot elections. It would give union organizers free rein to pressure workers into signing authorization cards. Once enough workers are persuaded to sign, the union would automatically be certified, and it would be illegal for workers to have a secret ballot election. Then the bill would implement a compressed schedule for employers to bargain with their new union. If an agreement isn't reached in time, a government-mandated arbitrator would dictate the terms and conditions of employment and hand the employer a contract—and even the workers wouldn't get a chance to vote on it.

But there's more. Also high on these unions' agenda is allowing the establishment of mini-unions. For example, organizers could go in and just sign up two or three people--not even a majority--and then you've got a union! Big labor also wants to mandate employer-paid leave and health care regardless of ability to pay, criminalize OSHA violations, nationalize health care, and increase taxes and the size of government.

How do these unions hope to implement their agenda? They are betting the house that their path to renewed power--the way to get everything on their wish list--is to elect a pro-union Congress and administration in 2008.

Can they do it? It's possible. Collectively, unions could spend $400 million to $500 million this election cycle. Of course, unions have a right to participate in the political process, but so does the American business community--and we must if we hope to maintain a free and open economy.

2008 will be a watershed year for the future of organized labor. These unions are not playing around, and neither can we. To help stop big labor's anti-small business agenda, visit VoteForBusiness and sign our petition against card check."

Originally published 22 July 2008. Reprinted by permission, uschamber.com, July 2008.
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