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$50 Billion More for Big Labor

The "hottest" idea around Washington these days is the suggestion government create a $50 billion fund to build infrastructure across the nation.   Despite the fact that the failed stimulus package included over $200 billion for "shovel-ready" projects, the president is desperate to bump employment numbers up and is calling for immediate passage of an addition $50 billion in spending. It's no surprise the President touted this idea at the AFL-CIO rally on Labor Day.  This new spending would be another handout and bailout to the labor union bosses and Michelle Malkin understands why President Obama calls his latest attempt to revive the economy a “Plan to Renew and Expand America’s Roads, Railways and Runways.” I’m calling it “The Mother of all Big Dig Boondoggles.” Like the infamous “Big Dig” highway spending project in Boston, this latest White House infrastructure spending binge guarantees only two results: Taxpayers lose; unions win. The blunt instrument used to give unions a leg up is the “project labor agreement (PLA),” which in theory sets reasonable pre-work terms and conditions — but in practice, requires contractors to hand over exclusive bargaining control; to pay inflated, above-market wages and benefits; and to fork over dues money and pension funding to corrupt, cash-starved labor organizations. These anti-competitive agreements undermine a fair bidding process on projects that locked-out, nonunion laborers are funding with their own tax dollars. And these PLAs benefit the privileged few at the expense of the vast majority: In the construction industry, 85 percent of the workforce is nonunion by choice.

Right To Work President Mark Mix's Labor Day Message

Labor Day Statement: What Labor Day Really Means by: NRTW President Mark Mix This Labor Day, as we celebrate working men and women across the nation, union officials are mounting an unprecedented effort to expand their coercive powers over America's employees and employers. Their goal is to expand the number of workers forced to pay union dues or fees and accept mandatory union representation just to keep their jobs. Union officials' ambitious agenda goes beyond the scope of previous years. By their own admission, Big Labor officials are gearing up for their most aggressive midterm election political blitz ever. And regardless of the outcome, they are focused on a series of unprecedented power grabs and pay backs sure to send shivers up any independent-minded worker's spine. Meanwhile, the National Right to Work Committee continues to mobilize its 2.6 million members to combat these draconian bills. Throughout the U.S., more than 12 million American workers are already compelled to pay union dues as a condition of keeping their jobs. Sadly, many workers feel they have no choice but to pay for organized labor's extensive political activities, while others are still unaware of their right to object. That's why the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is providing free legal aid to thousands of employees nationwide. American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers' famous adage that "No lasting gain has ever come from compulsion" is as relevant as ever this Labor Day.

Right To Work President Mark Mix's Labor Day Message

Labor Day Statement: What Labor Day Really Means by: NRTW President Mark Mix This Labor Day, as we celebrate working men and women across the nation, union officials are mounting an unprecedented effort to expand their coercive powers over America's employees and employers. Their goal is to expand the number of workers forced to pay union dues or fees and accept mandatory union representation just to keep their jobs. Union officials' ambitious agenda goes beyond the scope of previous years. By their own admission, Big Labor officials are gearing up for their most aggressive midterm election political blitz ever. And regardless of the outcome, they are focused on a series of unprecedented power grabs and pay backs sure to send shivers up any independent-minded worker's spine. Meanwhile, the National Right to Work Committee continues to mobilize its 2.6 million members to combat these draconian bills. Throughout the U.S., more than 12 million American workers are already compelled to pay union dues as a condition of keeping their jobs. Sadly, many workers feel they have no choice but to pay for organized labor's extensive political activities, while others are still unaware of their right to object. That's why the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is providing free legal aid to thousands of employees nationwide. American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers' famous adage that "No lasting gain has ever come from compulsion" is as relevant as ever this Labor Day.

Big Labor's Legacy of Violence

Michelle Malkin highlights the long history of violence associated with big labor: To mark Labor Day 2010, President Obama will join hands with AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka in Milwaukee, and they will pose as champions of the working class. Bad move. Trumka’s organizing record is a shameful reminder of the union movement’s violent and corrupt foundations. The new Obama/AFL-CIO power alliance — underwritten with $40 million in hard-earned worker dues — is a midterm shotgun marriage of Beltway brass knuckles and Big Labor brawn. Trumka warmed up his rhetorical muscles this past week with full-frontal attacks on former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. He indignantly accused her of “getting close to calling for violence” and suggested that her criticism of tea-party-bashing labor bosses amounted to “terrorizing” workers. Trumka and Obama will cast Big Labor as an unassailable force for good in American history. But when it comes to terrorizing workers, Trumka knows whereof he speaks. [stream provider=youtube flv=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DpUVpJnHZNw8 img=x:/img.youtube.com/vi/pUVpJnHZNw8/0.jpg embed=false share=false width=450 height=253 dock=true controlbar=over bandwidth=high autostart=true /] Meet Eddie York. He was a workingman whose story will never scroll across Obama’s teleprompter. A nonunion contractor who operated heavy equipment, York was shot to death during a strike called by the United Mine Workers 17 years ago. Workmates who tried to come to his rescue were beaten in an ensuing melee. The head of the UMW spearheading the wave of strikes at that time? Richard Trumka. Responding to concerns about violence, he shrugged to the Virginian-Pilot in September 1993: “I’m saying if you strike a match and you put your finger in it, you’re likely to get burned.” Incendiary rhetoric, anyone?