ANTI-LABOR FACTIONS ARE COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK

Anti-Labor forces are trying to scare you to death;
these above websites are totally bogus

Rochester, N.Y.--  The Empire Center has issued a new call for the New York State Legislature to declare a fiscal emergency and freeze collectively bargained wages of public employees. CSEA has pointed out to the media that this is a blatant attack on working people by an organization funded by some of the wealthiest individuals and corporations in the world, counter productive for the economy, and singles out labor contracts for emergency action while leaving other kinds of contracts in place.

CSEA also pointed out that the Empire Center’s justification for the emergency action comes from an opinion issued by the law firm of Bond Schoeneck & King, a notoriously anti-labor firm with a long history of accepting taxpayer money to conduct union prevention seminars for not-for profit providers funded by the state.

With the constant media bashing of unions becoming a bloodsport of sorts, anti-labor forces like the Empire Center firmly believe public sentiment would be behind such a move, given the economic wreckage that has swept through the private sector.  

They are essentially saying that we must use furloughs and wage freezes as an antidote to save our state from financial ruin, or suffer the consequence of shutting down our state government.  Most informed sane individuals know this is a ridiculous notion, but it will not stop them from using fear tactics and misinformation.  Plus, they are seizing the moment-- relentlessly kicking working families in the gut while the media continues to portray unions as evil do-ers and the Freddy Kruger's of the world.

Basically, they contend that freezing public sector wages would be popular enough with the electorate that it could outweigh the inevitable backlash from public employees.  Conversely, a Siena Poll released on April 19 insisted that most New Yorkers disapprove of Governor Paterson withholding negotiated cost of living increases for state workers.

And, earlier this year, anti-labor forces cheered when Senate Republicans filibustered the nomination of Craig Becker, President Obama's choice for the National Labor Relations Board (the chief federal referee of labor-management disputes).

Now, the same groups are angry over the president's decision to recess-appoint Becker to the NLRB. Becker, a highly-regarded labor lawyer, is despised by anti-labor movement because he is pro-worker, which to the right, is seen as radical. Already, several anti-labor groups have asked Becker to recuse himself from cases that involve anti-labor groups.

This has given rise to websites like LaborPains.org, a project of Richard Berman's Center for Union Facts and Richard Berman's Employee Freedom Action Committee.  I will not insult your intelligence by providing a link to this trash.  If you don't know about this slimeball fearmonger named Richard Berman, you should.  Here is an article about Berman.  He and the people who fund his messaging are also attacking the recess-appointment of Becker. They are complaining that the White House obfuscated Becker's record, which is disingenuine at best.

Any tax-paying, right-minded citizen should know and care when they are being manipulated by people and groups who do not have the greater good in mind.  They are the small minority of individuals and corporations who own most of the wealth in America, and are trying to protect their ill-gotten gains.

To this point, the AFL-CIO is fighting back and took their message to Wall Street on Worker's Memorial Day, April 29.  In a campaign called "Good Jobs Now! Make Wall Street Pay," over 30,000 of us rallied on Wall Street in person or as virtual marchers. Our message: Wall Street wrecked the economy, now it's time Big Banks pay up and create good jobs for the rest of us.

Our message to our union brothers and sisters all across America is simple:  never apologize for anything and keep fighting for our working families through activism, political action and the collective bargaining process.  We must remain vigilant to address the misinformation from our attackers and seek truth to power.  Groups like the Empire Center need to be exposed for who they really are.  They are noncompassionate, self-serving, affluent elitists who could care less about working families or growing our economy.