In the ongoing debate over card check’s forced government contracts – the proposal to let government bureaucrats establish wages, benefits, job duties, and other work rules if unions and management cannot reach agreement within 120 days – a new wrinkle has emerged. It seems that special interest efforts to increase the number of union members at any cost could have a steep cost indeed for an unexpected group – current union workers.
An op-ed in today’s Washington Examiner explains—
"Ironically, if Card Check-by-another-name were to pass, one group that stands to be hurt the most is union workers, especially construction workers, in states like Pennsylvania where region-wide collective bargaining is relatively common.
“That is because whatever is ultimately enacted is sure to retain requirements that federally-appointed arbitrators set pay and work rules if employees and employers cannot complete a contract within 120 days. While the intent of that provision is to ensure that newly unionized businesses don’t delay negotiations, the ramifications for union construction workers are severe.
“Having Washington-appointed officials set contract terms for companies would make it harder to maintain collective bargaining through area agreements. Those area agreements set wages, hours, and work rules for union workers for a variety of firms in a given region. The agreements also allow union members to work for different employers during their career because their health and pension benefits remain portable and reliable.
“Newly unionized employers forced into arbitration are likely to have wages and benefits different than those in the area agreement. If those are less than what is in the area agreement, the ability to seamlessly move from one employer to the next will be undermined. Union workers will instead be forced to choose between staying with a single company even when there is no work or reduced wages and disrupted benefits contributions. …
“Backers of Card Check, or the inevitable ‘compromise,’ should be careful of what they ask for. The price for a quick boost to national union enrollment is simply too high for construction workers. After all, if new and existing unionized workers get caught in jurisdictional disputes, see new risks to their pension contributions or can’t enjoy the benefits of area agreements, no good will come of making it easier to unionize.”
Sandherr, “Card Check is bad for union workers, too,” The Washington Examiner, 05.05.09
If both non-union workers and union workers stand to lose under card check, it’s worth asking who the real beneficiaries would be.
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