Big Labor Composes Scarlet Letters Against NRTW

The Politico’s Ben Smith exposes more attempts by Big Labor Bosses to use clout gained from forced unionism; union pension “trustees” are attacking the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation.  While ignoring pension fund trustees’ fiduciary responsibility requirements, Teamsters union’s health, welfare and pension fund trustees are trying to intimidate Wall Street against NRTW and away from any opposition to their card check forced unionism bill. 

Just by listing NRTW in their letter, the union is trying to create a scarlet letter-effect that will steer Wall Street away from the Foundation.    

To sum it up: Big Labor Bosses are using the public votes of congress to intimidate congressmen into taking away workers’ private ballots and now they are using the pension fund gains through forced unionism to intimidate Wall Street against opposing card check forced unionism; and yet, we are supposed to believe that card check will not lead to increased intimidation?

The labor movement is taking square aim at Wall Street with a new tool in its fight to pass the Employee Free Choice Act: the hundreds of billions of dollars in pension funds it manages for union workers and retirees, some of it held by the same firms that are fighting the provision known as “card check.”

“Has your company made any public statements in support or opposition to EFCA?” asks one of nine pointed questions in a polite, detailed four-page questionnaire.

“If ‘Yes,’ please explain.”

The detailed questionnaire has three parts. The first asks about fund managers’ public positions, lobbying and political contributions. The second asks managers to “disclose any relationships during the past five years between your company and any organization(s) opposing the passage” of EFCA. The form lists [the National Right to Work Foundations specifically]. 

Another labor official said the AFL-CIO, the largest labor federation, is set to ask its own pointed questions of money managers soon.

“In the coming weeks, we will be rolling out initiatives from shareholders, investment groups and businesses in support of the Employee Free Choice Act,” said AFL spokesman Eddie Vale, who declined to discuss targeting Wall Street.

Financial industry officials took a darker view of the survey. “The fact that union bosses would try and shake down financial institutions by asking that they disclose information” about the bill “is beyond outrageous,” said an aide to one trade organization, who – like other industry officials rattled by the letters – refused to speak on the record. He also called it “troubling that Big Labor would use their pension plans as the bargaining chip.”