Debbie Schlussel: America's Retailers to Staff: If Obama & Dem Congress Win, We're Screwed
This is a very important negative on Obama, which isn't getting nearly enough play.
The fact is that if conventional wisdom says Obama is stronger for the economy than McCain, the conventional wisdom is ignoring what is appropriately nicknamed, "The Employee No Choice Act."
If will have significant ripples throughout our economy,with a lot of store closings and lost jobs. If you think things are bad now, wait until this happens:
Retailers are meeting with store managers to warn how a strong showing for Democrats in the Nov. 4 election could cause what they fear would be more economic pain for their companies, in particular by potentially making it easier for unions to organize stores.
Obamaconomics . . .
The companies are worried about presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's stated support for the Employee Free Choice Act, which would do away with secret balloting and allow unions to form if a majority of employees sign cards favoring unionization. The legislation, retailers fear, would have improved chances of becoming law under a Democratic administration.The legislation passed the House last year but died amid a Senate filibuster and a threatened presidential veto. The issue in this election is whether Democrats, who hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate, can win the presidency and gain enough seats to prevent Republicans from using procedural motions, such as filibusters, to thwart legislation.
The bill was crafted by labor as a response to more aggressive opposition by companies to union-organizing activity and as a way to shield workers from antiunion pressure from their employers.
Home Depot Inc. in recent weeks has held meetings between its employee-relations managers and all the company's salaried employees, including district managers and store managers, on how the Free Choice legislation would change the union-organizing process.
"We think the most basic element of any democracy is the vote by secret ballot, and this bill effectively eliminates that right," said Home Depot spokesman Ron DeFeo. . . .
Target Corp. Chief Executive Gregg Steinhafel said his staff has been working to educate senators about how the bill would hurt retailers by raising costs and lowering sales.
"We call it the Employee No Choice Act," he told analysts this week. "We think it could be very damaging to all of American business, and we stand strongly opposed to it."
If the Democrats control both houses, they will pass this law and Obama will sign it. Unions will engage in gestapo tactics to pressure those who won't sign cards or vote for bringing in the unions. I wouldn't be surprised if employees who oppose unions are victims of vandalism and physical attacks. This is that dangerous.
Again, just wait until this passes. Again, more stores will close, and more people will be out of work. They won't have money to spend at your business and/or employer. And then, we really will be forced into a depression.
Things will get really bad. I shudder at the prospect.
If you are turned off by social conservatism, if you equate McCain with Bush, and/or if all you care about is the economy, this is reason number one to vote for John McCain.
Posted by Debbie on October 27, 2008 04:15 PM to Debbie Schlussel