Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Some day you may not have to work 3 minimum wage jobs

My two year old watches over my shoulder as I read the news, and he'll point out pictures of Obama "Oh! Is that Barack Obama?"

"Yes, peanut. That's Barack Obama."

"Ooooooooohhh!"

And Barack Obama has had a very good couple of weeks. Today he signed the Don't Ask Don' Tell repeal into law. The START treaty with Russia to reduce nuclear arsenals seems likely to pass. Several held up Federal judges were finally seated. The Republicans are being nationally shamed for their obstruction on the 9/11 responder health bill, and it may pass this very day.

But of particular interest to me today is this press release by the National Labor Relations Board requiring written, posted notice of peoples' rights to organize at places like WalMart, for example.


The rule would require employers to notify employees of their rights [to form a union] under the National Labor Relations Act.

...the Board “believes that many employees protected by the NLRA are unaware of their rights under the statute. The intended effects of this action are to increase knowledge of the NLRA among employees, to better enable the exercise of rights under the statute, and to promote statutory compliance by employers an unions.”

Private-sector employers (including labor organizations) whose workplaces fall under the NLRA would be required to post the employee rights notice where other workplace
notices are typically posted.


This, to me, is key.

America's large middle class wasn't granted to people. It was taken by people, and only when Americans began to organize. Too few individuals realize they have a right to organize. It's time to reverse that trend.

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