American Rights at Work - News about the Anti-Union Network

Anti-Union Network News

Chao, big labor disagree on bailout package
The Journal News - 9/24/08
The Nashua Telegraph: Ads deceive workers on free-choice act
9/15/08 - Recent TV and radio spots paid for by Washington, D.C.-based lobbyists are lying to, and about, the working men and women of New Hampshire.
NPR: Profile: Employee Freedom Action Committee
9/8/08 - The Employee Freedom Action Committee is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization run by former lobbyist Richard Berman, who also runs several other industry-funded nonprofits.
The Oregonian: The lobbyist behind the anti-union campaign
9/8/08 - Berman's specialty is to act as a front man for business interests who would like to aggressively go after their opponents, but don't want their fingerprints attached.
The Wall Street Journal: Happy Labor Day. Drop Dead
9/3/08 - The destruction of the labor movement by tactics like these is a big part of the reason why wage-earners no longer rise as the economy grows, and why some day soon we will speak of the great middle-class nation in the past tense.
Seacoast Online: Make sure to get the facts behind political ads
8/20/08 - Millions of dollars are feeding the coffers of television and radio stations in both states, bombarding the airwaves with ads that are long on scare tactics and short on factual information.
Seacost Online: Groups lodge anti-union campaign
8/17/08 - The Center for Union Facts was founded by Richard Berman, a Washington lobbyist. According to a 2006 USA Today profile, Berman is not only responsible for fighting the anti-union battle, he has also taken on Mothers Against Drunk Driving, groups working to take trans fats out of foods and those fighting to increase the minimum wage.
Northwest Labor Press: Anti-union ads target Congressional candidates
8/15/08 - A well-funded anti-union group continues to target U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley because of his strong ties to the union movement and his support for labor?s top priority in Congress, the Employee Free Choice Act.
The Lexington Herald-Leader: Union-bashing disguised as concern for workers
8/15/08 - Kentucky's workers and voters should recognize that the recent rash of anti-union TV and radio ads are nothing more than propaganda intended to divert the attention of the electorate from the critical issues of the day: health care, good jobs, education, trade, retirement security, energy security and the war.
The New York Times: Groups to File Complaint Against Wal-Mart
8/14/08 - The A.F.L.-C.I.O and three other pro-labor groups will urge the Federal Election Commission on Thursday to rule that Wal-Mart acted illegally by warning many store managers and department heads that a Democratic victory in November would hurt the company by helping workers unionize.
The Washington Post: Unions seek Wal-Mart probe over election law: report
8/14/08 - Labor groups are requesting an investigation into whether Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N) violated federal election laws by telling employees that electing Democrats would lead to passage of legislation making it easier to unionize companies, The Wall Street Journal said citing a letter.
The Wall Street Journal: Unions Seek Probe of Wal-Mart Over Election Law
8/14/08 - Prominent labor groups are seeking an investigation into whether Wal-Mart Stores Inc. violated federal election laws by telling employees that electing Democrats would lead to passage of legislation making it easier to unionize companies.
Politicker ME: EFCA: What Maine's labor community says
8/13/08 - Ed Gorham, president of Maine?s chapter of the AFL-CIO, had one word to describe Employee Freedom?s ads: Despicable.
Roll Call: Ads on Unions Air in States With Close Senate Races
8/1/08 - An organization that opposes the Employee Free Choice Act has placed a $5 million television advertisement buy across eight states with competitive Senate races, according to the group?s organizers.
WHAS: Anti-union ads begin running in states with close U.S. Senate races
7/30/08 - Some unusual commercials with strong messages are on the airwaves targeting labor unions. They?re part of a nation-wide anti-union campaign.
AlterNet: Corporate America Prepares for Battle Against Worker Campaign to Roll Back Assault on the Middle Class
8/8/08 - The Chamber of Commerce, D.C. lobbyists, firms that rely on cheap labor and a host of "astroturf" front groups are building a war chest that could reach hundreds of millions of dollars in an effort to build a firewall against EFCA and other...
Bangor Daily News: Reject smears against Free Choice Act
7/5/08 - An out-of-state group called "Employee Freedom" is running radio ads in Maine attacking Rep. Tom Allen and Maine unions for their support of the Employee Free Choice Act.
San Francisco Chronicle: Name of organizations can be deceiving
7/20/08 - While it bills itself as "devoted to promoting personal responsibility and protecting consumer choices," others describe it variously as a front group, PR agency or tool for the restaurant and alcohol industries.
Minnesota Independent: Deceptive anti-labor ad campaign strokes Coleman, slimes Franken
7/11/08 - As a backgrounder at the pro-union American Rights at Work site explains, "Contrary to the lies and distortions displayed in CDW?s new TV ad and on its website, the Employee Free Choice Act does not take secret ballots away from workers.
Group launches anti-Franken ad
Associated Press - 7/7/08
9 News: Anti-labor-union group to run ads on TV
6/19/08 - Jess Knox with Protect Colorado's Future, the group advocating the union initiatives, denounced the ad campaign and attacked Rick Berman, the individual behind the Center for Union Facts.