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Is It A Perfect Storm For Unions?

	Democrats in control of congress
	The Employee Free Choice Act
	Minimum Wage Legislation
	Immigration Reform
	The Unholiest of Alliances- Wal-Mart and SEIU collaborate on healthcare reform

All of these events will make it easier for unions to organize. Democrats will refuse to confirm unbiased NLRB members as current members’ terms expire. A higher minimum wage will raise “the floor” of all wage earners, e.g. those making $8.00, $10.00, or $12.00 an hour will spiral upward…or those employees will seek out a union. Organized labor will support any legislation that will increase the number of union-susceptible immigrants- legal or otherwise. Wal-Mart will sell out to Big Labor erroneously assuming there sales slump is caused at least in part by the UFCW’s corporate campaign. But of all the thunderheads, the bill that could deprive employees of their right to vote in a secret ballot election, the so-called Employee Free Choice Act, on whether or not to join a union is the most ominous.

Employer will be organized based on a single incident of supervisory malevolence or an inflammatory human resource policy change. No warning, no notice just a demand for recognition supported by a majority of cards unwittingly signed in a moment of anger.

It is unlikely this Bill will become law any sooner a Democrat occupies the White House but it will no doubt be too late for an employer to purify its culture then.

Preparing for the EFCA and the rest of the Perfect Storm requires diligence and effort. Adopting the principles of the Union Free Privilege needs to start now. Employees who feel the “love” of their employer and know what a union card means won’t sign one.

Nothing has changed. The principles are the same now as 50 years ago:

	*Hire the right people.*
	*Pay them appropriately.*
	*Provide competitive benefits.*
	*Govern with needs based policies/practices.*
	*Ask them, and listen to what they say.*
	*Remind them about the good things you do for them.*
	*Respect them as business partners.*
	*Give them competent leaders.*
	*Be vigilant.*

We can help.

2/9/2007


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