The Back Story: Employee Free Choice Act (Rove fundraiser)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.pjstar.com/features/x73586504/The-Back-Story-Employee-Free-Choice-Act

Journal Star
Posted May 16, 2009 @ 02:51 PM

The Back Story

Labor leaders say relationships they worked to build with management for more than 20 years in central Illinois were jeopardized Monday with Karl Rove's appearance to speak against the Employee Free Choice Act.

Though his appearance only lasted about an hour, the effects will be long-lasting. The closed-door fundraiser was hosted by the Economic Freedom Alliance, a seven-state coalition that opposes the legislation and is traversing the Midwest.

"This group comes in without any care or any sensitivity towards those relationships. Bringing Karl Rove in is a lightning rod. That's not somebody you bring in to have a meaningful dialogue," said state Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria.

Rove was a former adviser to President George W. Bush and currently is a commentator for Fox News. About 200 people representing roughly 30 unions rallied outside the Hotel Pere Marquette supporting the act, which they say will make it easier for employees to join labor unions.

Koehler worked for more than 20 years to help build cooperation between labor and management as executive director of Peoria Area Labor Management. An example of that collaboration was the successful Build the Block Downtown museum campaign, he said. "This is about stirring the pot. They'll leave town and we'll have relationships and hard feelings to try and patch up."

What Readers Say

Readers responses at link.