McGovern Ad: Don't Be Fooled Tonight

[Omaha Steve]

From my friend Michael Whitney

A lot of you might have seen this already, but George McGovern cut a TV ad for Rick Berman's anti-union Employee Freedom Action Committee against the Employee Free Choice Act. It debuts tonight during the presidential debate.

My basic take: don't worry, let it slide. It's a $2 million buy, but it's aimed at us - the people who pay attention, as well as policymakers and elected officials - not at voters. Here's what I wrote about how to approach this ad:

http://oxdown.firedoglake.com/diary/519

Don't Be Fooled Tonight

In August former Democratic Presidential candidate George McGovern wrote a fretful op-ed in the Wall Street Journal in which he cautioned "fellow" Democrats against supporting the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that would make it easier for workers to form unions. At the time Ian Welsh concluded McGovern was "out of step" with mainstream views.

Tonight McGovern will cross yet another line at the behest of business interests - during the Presidential debate, an ad featuring George McGovern will air in which he "condemns his own party" for supporting legislation that makes it easier for workers to join unions. McGovern's ad is part of a $120 million campaign by business groups and wealthy special interests who are trying to confuse & divide pro-worker leaders who support the Employee Free Choice Act.

Don't be fooled. Here's why.

First things first. McGovern is the *only* major Democratic figure who doesn't support the Employee Free Choice Act. Every single Democrat in the Senate and all but two in the House voted for the Employee Free Choice Act in 2007, excluding Tim Johnson, who was hospitalized. Even Joe Lieberman joined the Democratic caucus on this vote, and 1 Republican Senator and 13 GOP House members supported it as well. McGovern is virtually alone in his opposition to this bill.

Second, McGovern's claim - that the Employee Free Choice Act takes away "secret ballots" for union elections - is not true. The Employee Free Choice Act gives workers the choice to form a union, taking away businesses' veto power on the matter. Basically, once 50% +1 of workers in a workplace say they want a union, they get their union if the Employee Free Choice Act becomes law. But today, even if 100% of workers want a union, the employer can veto it. Rick Perlstein explains the situation well, via economist Dean Baker:

"The only change with the Employee Free Choice Act is whether card check recognition is at the discretion of the employer or the worker. In other words, it changes absolutely ZERO about whether the right of workers to organize is determined by secret ballot or not. The only thing it changes is who gets to decide the manner of certification, workers or employers."

Why is it a good thing if it's easier for workers to form unions? Take a look around. Do you think it's any surprise that the worst economic crisis in decades comes when the fewest workers are organized in unions?

When workers are able to form or join a union, workplaces across the country are more fair, giving people the chance to earn better wages and benefits - and protecting against excesses like we're seeing in corporate America today.

Look at what kind of a difference unions make:

* Union members earn 30% more than non-union workers.
* Workers in unions are 59% more likely be covered by employer-provided health insurance.
* A large union presence in an industry or region can raise wages even for non-union workers.
* Patients suffering heart attacks have a 5.5% greater chance of survival if their nurses are union members.

For months now, business groups like the one running McGovern's ad have poured literally tens of millions of dollars into 8 Senate races and national TV advertisements, even hiring some guy to dress up as Death and chase Senate candidates around their campaign events. This is for whom George McGovern now speaks.

Wealthy interests are running scared that workers can soon have their voice at work. The Employee Free Choice Act will restore the Middle Class and bring balance back to our country - something these groups just can't stand.

So, don't be fooled tonight - George McGovern and the Employee Freedom Action Committee speak only for themselves and their wealthy funders, not for anyone else in the country. The remainder of the Democratic Party, and a good chunk of the GOP, supports Free Choice for workers. And in January, we'll have the chance to make that choice.


--
Michael Whitney

[Drunken Irishman]

1. Yes, associate this with the worst candidate in Democratic history.

Smart.

[Eric J in MN]

2. This seems like a good bill, but...

...if over 50% of workers publicly express their desire to form a union, wouldn't that mean that there is no secret ballot vote?

[Omaha Steve]

3. Its not expressed publicly

You have the right on the card to check yes for a union. You can also check for a secret ballot OR just use the card as your ballot if you wish to do so. The cards are only viewed by the person that collects them (and or the union) and the National Labor Relations board and it's representatives. The NLRB checks employees in the bargaining unit and matches signatures, etc...

[Omaha Steve]

4. McCain voted against, Obama voted for but it fell short of the needed 60 votes needed forfillibuster

It passes in the house. Obama has said he will sign the bill when it gets to his desk as President.

More here: http://www.aflcio.org/issues/politics/mccain_wrights.cfm

Download PDF version: http://www.aflcio.org/issues/politics/upload/mccain_rights.pdf

McCAIN WILL NOT PROTECT OUR RIGHTS

Sen. John McCain is clearly not a fan of workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain for better wages and benefits. He has spoken out against unions and consistently voted against collective bargaining rights for workers. Union members know the right to bargain is essential to preserving good jobs with good wages and benefits.
McCAIN DOESN’T LIKE UNIONS

McCain: Unions Have Played ‘Important Role’ But Have ‘Serious Excesses.’ When asked if unions are good for America, McCain responded, “I think the unions have played a very important role in the history of this country to improve the plight and conditions of laboring Americans. I think that like many other monopolies, in some cases they have then serious excesses.” (GOP Dearborn Debate, MSNBC, 10/9/07)

*
McCain: Teachers Unions Serve Unions’ Interest, NOT Children’s Interest. McCain has repeatedly attacked teachers unions. “It’s time to break the grip of the education monopoly that serves the union bosses at the expense of our children,” he said. (The New York Times, 2/11/00)

McCain Says Government Workers Are ‘Crippled’ by Union Contracts. In his speech to the Oklahoma state legislature, McCain said, “We must streamline our workforce, demand high standards of behavior, promote excellence at every level based on merit and accountability, and not let good workers be crippled by the fine print of the latest union contract…. The civil service has strayed from its reformist roots and has mutated into a no-accountability zone, where employment is treated as an entitlement, good performance as an option, and accountability as someone else’s problem.” (Address to the Oklahoma state legislature, 5/21/07)
McCAIN OPPOSES OUR FREEDOM TO FORM UNIONS

McCain Voted Against the Employee Free Choice Act but for a National ‘Right to Work’ for Less Law. McCain voted against the Employee Free Choice Act, which would level the playing field for workers trying to form unions. He voted for a national “right to work” for less law that would attempt to eliminate unions altogether. (H.R. 800, Vote 227, 6/26/07; S. 1788 Vote 188, 7/10/96)

McCain Crossed a Writers Guild Picket Line to Appear on ‘The Tonight Show.’ McCain crossed the picket line of the Writers Guild of America to appear on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” (Think Progress, accessed 2/27/08)

McCain Voted to Allow Employers to Hire Permanent Replacements During a Strike. McCain voted against ending debate on a bill that would bar employers from hiring permanent replacements for striking workers. (S. 55, Vote 189, 7/13/94)

Against Giving Firefighters and Police a Voice on the Job. Firefighters and police risk their lives every day to protect the public, yet McCain voted to deny them the right to discuss workplace issues with their employer in 2001 and skipped a vote on the issue in 2008. (H.R. 3061, Vote 323, 11/6/01; S. 2123, 10/1/07; H.R. 980, Vote 126, 5/13/08)McCain Voted Against Collective Bargaining Rights for TSA Screeners. McCain voted against a measure to grant Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport screeners limited collective bargaining rights. The measure would not have allowed them to strike or negotiate for higher pay. (S. 4, Vote 64, 3/7/07)

McCain Has a 17 Percent Lifetime AFL-CIO Rating. (AFL-CIO McCain Congressional Scorecard)



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