CDW on Job Protection Act

Click here to read the entire letter in support of the Job Protection Act.

CDW STATEMENT ON NLRB’S LETTER OF INTENTION TO SUE ARIZONA AND SOUTH DAKOTA

WASHINGTON, DC // APRIL 26, 2011 // The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) today issued the following statement in response to the release of the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) letter declaring the agency’s intent to immediately sue Arizona and South Dakota over state constitutional provisions requiring secret ballots when employees decide whether or not to join a union. The two states, along with Utah and South Carolina, enacted the constitutional provisions as part of ballot measures last fall. In the letter, the Board states it is only moving forward with suits against Arizona and South Dakota at this time.

“It is astonishing that the Board has once again decided to promote card check – a key component of the widely unpopular and job-killing Employee Free Choice Act,” said Geoffrey Burr, chair of CDW. “This latest move against the voters and workers of Arizona and South Dakota is simply another example of the Board placing the interests of union bosses above those of employees, businesses and the American public.”

“If the government is going to pursue a policy of challenging laws based on federal preemption, it should do so consistently, not just when it promotes Big Labor’s agenda.”

“Unfortunately, it appears that the NLRB’s latest attack is only the tip of the iceberg,” Burr concluded, “as the Board has also threatened to sue both South Carolina and Utah. The NLRB attempt to rob workers of a right to secret ballots by overturning initiatives the voters of South Dakota and Arizona passed by secret ballot elections is sad and ironic.”

CDW Message

CDW Members and Stakeholders,

On Friday, CDW issued a statement in response to the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) recent complaint against Boeing seeking to require that the company assemble certain aircraft in its unionized Washington State production plant rather than its non-union South Carolina plant. There has been a significant amount of press coverage on the issue, including editorials expressing outrage at the Board’s actions from the Seattle Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the Wall Street Journal. We will continue to follow the situation and keep you posted.

Also, late last week, CDW filed a motion in the NLRB case Mental Health Associates and SEIU Local 509. In the motion, we asked the Board (1) permission to file a brief (2) to allow us to May 31st to submit the brief and (3) to issue a general invitation to all interested parties to file briefs. If the Board grants the motion, we will be emailing you all a copy of the draft brief and offering you the opportunity to sign on.

The SEIU International already filed an amicus brief in the case without an invitation from the Board. SEIU International argues in its brief that the Board should reverse its long standing presumption that the work site is the best setting for a representation election - and instead institute a presumption that the election occur at a neutral site.

The work site is generally preferred as the election location as it increases voter participation and minimize workplace disruption and intimidation against employees, particularly those who refused to sign cards.

We will let you know how the Board response to our motion.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or Josh Ulman, josh@ulmanpolicy.com, with any questions.

Geoff