To My Union Brothers and Why They Call Him Dick Cheney

Dick Cheney gave a speech before the National Association of Manufacturers. One of the many things he spoke about was a bill that labour activist have tried to get through Congress, the Employee Free Choice Act, which would make it easier for workers to form unions. This bill would require the formation of a union after a majority of workers signed authorization cards. Under current law workers can request a election to form a union, but the process can take from 6 weeks to 6 months, and they face intimidation from the company meanwhile. Union organizers can be denied access to the workplace while workers can be forced to attend anti-union meetings. The bill also would also impose stronger penalties on employers who violate labor laws and allow for arbitration to settle first contract disputes. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said, “The Employee Free Choice Act levels the playing field to give workers a fighting chance to have a union and bargain for better wages and benefits,” he said, “It puts in place real penalties for employers that violate workers’ freedom to make their own choice about a union.” Dick Cheney in his speech says, “Our administration rejects any attempt to short-circuit the rights of workers.” Cheney said if this bill comes over President Bush’s desk then he “will veto the bill.” That would be Bush’s second veto then, stem cell research and workers rights bad; torture and spending money like there is no tomorrow good……
Alan Cosgrove