Big Labor's Allies In The Senate Are At It Again.

Union-label Senators could bring the Police and Firefighters Monopoly Bargaining Bill to the floor for a vote at any minute as an amendment to the War appropriations legislation. 

"The US Senate majority with at least six Republicans want to impose a Government sector collective bargaining on states that do not follow these irresponsible practices.

Please send your Senators a free action fax IMMEDIATELY and afterwards call them and urge them to vote NO on this brazen union boss power grab or any attempt to add this Big Labor power grab to other legislation by Clicking Here. 

And after you have filled out your free fax authorization form, we’ll provide you with the phone numbers of your Senators so you can call and urge them to vote NO on S. 3194.

They are trying to catch us sleeping, but your phone calls, letters, and faxes helped kill that effort. Demand that they OPPOSE any bill that includes Police and Firefighters Monopoly Bargaining. To Send Your Message Click Here

OSHA on the prowl

Employers must be aware that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA") has been loudly broadcasting to everyone who will listen that it is stepping up its enforcement efforts. As the Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, David Michaels, proudly announced in a recent speech, OSHA cited almost twice as many employers for egregious violations in the first quarter of 2010 than it had in all of the previous fiscal year.

Recent developments indicate that, if anything, Mr. Michaels understated the current trend at OSHA. Not only is OSHA more stringently enforcing its existing standards, it is also expanding its enforcement efforts under the general duty clause, and maximizing penalties for employers who are charged with safety violations.

OSHA has shifted their focus from OSHA Alliances to enforcement, It is unclear if the Alliance program will even be continued in the future.

Read More

Passage of DISCLOSE Act an Assault on Freedom of Speech

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas J. Donohue issued the following statement on House passage of the DISCLOSE Act:

“The Democratic majority in the House jammed through a piece of legislation that clearly violates the Constitution, as well as basic principles of fairness and equity. The Supreme Court calls it ‘viewpoint discrimination,’ and every first-year law student knows that it’s illegal.

"They only achieved passage of this bill by making backroom deals and exempting some of the most powerful special interest groups in the country—and specifically allowing unions to mask the movement of their political money.

Read More from US Chamber of Commerce

View Video Explaining Details of How the DISCLOSE Act will damage Independent Contractor and Business Organizations ability to participate in the Political Process.

Senate Approves NLRB Appointments

The U.S. Senate confirmed union lawyer Mark Pearce and Republican policy director Brian Hayes to serve as commissioners of the National Labor Relations Board. Senators did not, however, confirm the controversial nomination of former Service Employees International Union Counsel Craig Becker.

The approval gives the Board a full five-member panel for the first time in almost 3 years. Board members serve staggered terms. Pearce's term will run until August 2013, while Hayes term will expire in December 2012. President Obama nominated Hayes (R) to fill a longer-standing vacancy, ensuring that his term will expire sooner. 

The confirmations of Pearce and Hayes follow the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Board authority. The Court ruled 5-4 that a two-member Board lacks the authority to issue decisions. The Supreme Court ruling will have implications on the timeliness of nominations, confirmations, and recess appointments, in order to maintain the Board’s legitimacy.

Becker's recess appointment is set to expire at the end of 2011. It has been suggested that upon the conclusion of Becker's recess appointment, he may be installed as the Board’s General Counsel. As the official responsible for the investigation and prosecution of unfair labor practice cases and for the general supervision of NLRB field offices, the General Counsel position is as significant as the Board members themselves.