June 18, 2013

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SEIU’s demands endanger our elderly in nursing homes

December 21, 2012 By Carol Greenberg

This is absolutely appalling. Big Labor goes on strike, demands their jobs back and endangers our elderly.

Problems arose in Connecticut last year when members of SEIU working for Heathbridge Management attempted to negotiate a new contract with SEIU, where their members worked at five of their nursing homes. The workers demanded the company contribute more to their pension programs and also wanted free healthcare for their families. The company said if they did so it might force them out of business. After a copious number of failed negotiations the workers went on strike July 3, 2012.

But never doubt that Big Labor can sink to new lows as they took “reprehensible” to a new level.

Union members wreaked havoc as they left. Some reportedly scrambled or removed the identification of elderly residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s, even though patients could have died from receiving the wrong drugs, food, or medical procedures. Reports to the Connecticut Department of Health indicate that someone had tampered with mechanical lifts by dismantling and hiding a critical structural component. Elderly patients could easily have fallen off the lifts to their death.

The threats are ongoing and the SEIU’s Big Boys? Of course they think it’s only fair that every worker be rehired.

Despite union members’ reprehensible behavior, the SEIU went to bat for its workers. The union took the case to the National Labor Relations Board, which then sought to force Healthbridge to rehire all 600 striking SEIU members regardless of their behavior.

In spite of the protests of anyone who knows about the situation, a judge ruled in favor of the unions. And even further, a stay was given earlier this week, but the stakes are higher than ever:

Regardless, on December 11, Judge Robert Chatigny ruled in favor of the unions, ignoring the plight of the defenseless elderly and the new hires. Healthbridge is appealing the decision and was granted a temporary stay on December 17, but if it loses, it will have to fire all 600 replacement workers to make room for the SEIU walk-outs. Meanwhile, many residents and their families say the new workers are far superior to the old, unionized ones.

Investigative reporter Zach Janowski of the Yankee Institute summarized the appalling attitude of many of the workers:

We want something from this company, and these elderly people are less important than the things we want. Therefore, we’re going to put people in danger for the sake of trying to get more money and benefits.

If Big Labor gets its way, Heathbridge will have to fire its replacement workers, whom family members say are much better quality, and rehire the SEIU workers.

And all of this is just the tip of the iceberg. The stakes are high for these patients, and such callous acts are hardly a rarity for striking union workers. With Big Labor’s cries of desperation coming out of Michigan, now is the perfect time to shine light on their true nature.

Crossposted at Unified Patriots

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Filed Under union thuggery, unions Tagged With Heathbridge Management, nursing home abuse, SEIU, union thuggery, unions

AFL-CIO Trumka speaks at UN on climate change

January 13, 2012 By Carol Greenberg

richard_trumka-300x162H/t @laborunionrpt

One simple question: what for heaven’s sake is Trumka doing at the U.N. yapping about coal and climate change? Are we to be subjected to him not only ranting about those underpaid unioners and the horrific teabaggers but now he’s invited to the U.N.?

Speaking at the 2012 United Nations Investor Summit on Climate Risk & Energy Solutions, AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka blasted climate deniers in Congress for threatening the free enterprise system and the future of civilization. Trumka began his speech laying out the stark challenge of global warming: a “stable climate is the foundation of our global civilization,” and thus “the prerequisite for a profitable investment environment”:

Today, as we meet together, scientists tell us we are headed ever more swiftly toward irreversible climate change—with catastrophic consequences for human civilization. We must have a stable climate to feed the planet, to ensure there is drinking water for our cities but not floodwaters at our doors. A stable climate is the foundation of our global civilization, of our global economy—the prerequisite for a profitable investment environment.

He was also yapping about the future of coal and not in a good way:

“We live on one planet, and we share a common humanity that requires respect for each others’ families and communities,” Trumka said. “In particular, we need dialogue between environmentalists and workers and communities about the future of coal.[emphasis mine].

This from the man who was the former president of the United Mine Workers and should know the importance coal has in our lives and those who are employed by the industry.

Oh, I forgot. His boss is Obama, or vice versa. Take your pick.

As Kenny S. would say, B.O.H.I.C.A.

I for one am for dumping the U.N. and moving it to an atoll in the Pacific.

Crossposted at Unified Patriots

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Filed Under unions Tagged With AFL-CIO, climate change, coal, Richard Trumka, U.N., unions

Ohio *Right-to-work* initiative: please think before you act

November 27, 2011 By Carol Greenberg

“As Ohio goes, so goes the nation.”

Failure

My mantra has always been the one in the picture above: mainly to think of the consequences before acting on what you may think is at the time, a great idea.

This past election Ohio had a major smackdown by the unions, Dems and progressive organizations who orchestrated the defeat of Issue #2, which if passed would have upheld Ohio Governor Kasich’s SB5. Depending on who is accurate, the Left poured $30-50 million into this state to ensure its defeat.

Now Ohio could be poised to suffer more “union drama” in this state which could hold major implications for the November 2012 election. A Tea Partier by the name of Chris Littleton representing himself under the auspices of the Ohio Liberty Council, a coalition of Tea Parties and conservative groups, has begun the preparations for a referendum on next year’s November ballot. Littleton labels it the Work Place Freedom Amendment. If passed it would place an amendment on Ohio’s constitution to make her a “right to work” state.  However, according to a press release by the Ohio Liberty Council Littleton’s actions are his own, and not representative of the OLC.

Initially this may seem sound judgement for those who believe belonging to a union should be a choice, and not mandated; but if one delves further into the issue many, including this writer, believe the timing is all wrong.

Ohio will already be a battleground state in 2012. Obama and his minions, including the unions, have already poured millions of dollars into Ohio in an attempt to ensure a win for Obama here. One can then imagine if a “right to work” amendment is also on the November ballot Ohio will be fighting the unions on two fronts at the same time and having to split much needed dollars available that should be going to defeat Obama. Below is an email already in circulation by AFL-CIO Ohio:

AFL-CIO Ohio

Notice the words “extreme right-wing forces” and “a Right-to-work for less constitutional amendment is SB5 on steroids.”

And as a reminder of how the Dems already feel about the Tea Parties, below are two flashbacks from 2010. Chris Redfern, Ohio Democratic Chair has some choice R-rated words when he talks about the Tea Party. Warning, graphic language.

And former Ohio Dem Governor Strickland also becomes unhinged when ranting about the Tea Parties:

Fellow Ohioan “Bytor” over at Ohio’s Third Base Politics and Big Government also agrees putting this issue on the ballot in 2012 could spell disaster:

The placement of another union related issue on the ballot could tip the scales in favor of Obama winning Ohio, and thus winning reelection. Yes, we believe that placing the RTW referendum on the 2012 ballot could actually result in the reelection of Barack Obama, even if the amendment was approved. [snip] Do we really want to give Democrats a reason to be excited about 2012? Do we really want to give the Ohio Democratic Party and national unions another vehicle with which to fire up their GOTV machine for President Downgrade? We don’t!

I’m urging any and all fellow Ohioans if approached to sign this petition to politely say “no thank-you.”

Let’s deal with one battle at a time. We’ve been dealing with the unions for many, many years. We can wait until 2013.

Crossposted at Unified Patriots

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Filed Under unions Tagged With AFL-CIO, Chris Littleton, Chris Redfern, John Kasich, Obama, Ohio, Ohio Liberty Council, Ohio right to work petition, SB5, Tea Parties, Ted Strickland, unions, Work Place Freedom Amendment

The shooting of a Toledo non-union businessman: what you *didn’t* hear

August 18, 2011 By Carol Greenberg

H/t to Pilgrim. Without him knowing I live in Toledo, I never would have known about this story.

By now most of you have probably heard the story of a Toledo, Ohio businessman who was shot in his home last week. Presumably in retaliation for him operating, and continuing to operate, a non-union business. Below is a reminder of what awaited Mr. King outside his home last Wednesday evening:

Scab1

LaborUnionReport ironically was the first in the country to break the story, NOT Toledo News.

I was born and raised in Toledo and have lived here my entire life so I am familiar with the area, dynamics and the politics of this Democratic, ultra-liberal city which is the home to a Chrysler plant and many other union-controlled businesses.

Much of the auto industry and accompanying suppliers have left the area to move to sunnier shores: GM is gone, Ford is gone, AP Parts is gone, Delphi is gone;  just to name a few, leaving much of Toledo looking as decrepit as Detroit.

About the only thing that hasn’t left are the unions. And they have a lot of power and influence here.

John King is the owner of King Electrical Services in Toledo and has kept at horrific expense to himself and his business, a non-union shop. Over the past 40 years his company has endured vandalism and threats and has been on the radar of the IBEW, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Mr. King has maintained over the years a perfect A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and his business has received only one complaint in the last 3 years, a billing dispute that was resolved amicably.

King may have his business in Toledo, but he lives just over the Ohio border in the small town of Lambertville, Michigan. I’ve been to Lambertville many times, I have friends there. It’s a humble middle-class town which is on the Toledo-Detroit corridor. Many Toledoans drive to Detroit and its environs every day to work.

Last week Mr. King confronted a trespasser late in the evening after hearing noises in the front yard. He found his SUV vandalized with the word “SCAB” written on the side of it. It wasn’t until after calling the police did he realize he had been shot in the arm. He was treated at the scene and didn’t need further medical attention.

But the gist of this article, is not what you’ve seen, but what you haven’t seen: and that is the almost total lack of coverage of this incident by the media. Yep. After LUR picked it up so did all the blogs, but news stations? Only one that I could find: WTOL-TV in Toledo. And that was not until almost a week later. Link to the video is here. Sorry, it won’t embed for me.

I checked Toledo ABC-WTVG and  Toledo NBC-WNWO. Nada. I also checked that ultra-liberal monopolistic newspaper Toledo Blade: nada.

A Bedford-Temperance Michigan small newspaper picked up a small blurb and gave a description of the assailant as a white male, 6 foot tall, medium build in his 20s or 30s. The suspect was last seen wearing a dark colored t-shirt, jeans and a dark colored baseball cap. FYI the towns of Bedford and Temperance are within just a few miles of Lambertville.

The Lambertville News picked up just a sentence, linking the story back to Toledo 11 News. I also checked with one of my friends in Lambertville today who told me she heard the original story from Toledo 11 and has heard nothing since or anywhere else.

Mr. King  now has some celebrity, since he was interviewed by Glenn Beck on his radio show.

Although the Monroe County Michigan Sheriff’s Dept is still investigating, if initial visual evidence is correct, this certainly does appear to be a union *hit* as they see their rosy lifestyle slipping away before their eyes.

And if so, they’ve graduated from pushing, shoving and face-punching to attempted murder.

Crossposted at Unified Patriots

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Filed Under unions Tagged With Glenn Beck, IBEW, John King, King Electrical Services, union violence, WTOL11 Toledo

Unions using non-union-made inflatable rats to intimidate non-union businesses

June 2, 2011 By Carol Greenberg

Many of you have probably seen one of these large inflatable rats at some businesses or construction sites. I’ve seen one of these 16-foot mega rodents in my area, they are pretty hard to miss:

The rat

They are a method of intimidation meant to shame a non-union business or company using non-union workers or paying lower than union wages. However, according to union expert Labor Union Report via a tweet on twitter, those “rats” are not made by union workers. Oh, the hypocrisy.

And if that’s not enough, consider the National Labor Relations Board’s painful-to-watch attacks on America’s right to work. Whether it’s setting up these giant inflatable rats, passing regulations as punishments against businesses, or trying to skip the appointment process in order to get radical partisans on the board, the current NLRB has shown no shame in promoting Big Labor’s agenda.

The 5- member NLRB has ruled that the rats are allowed as a protest tactic and are not coercive. Members Craig Becker and Mark Pearce along with chairman Wilma Liebman stated the rats are not confrontational, as is picketing.

But in the opinion of one former board chairman, Peter Schaumber:

“The board is taking startlingly aggressive positions aimed at augmenting union power,”

Last week on Capitol Hill before the House Education and Workforce Committee an Indiana businessman testified tactics used by SEIU members against his business in 2005 were “ruthless” and cost him $1 million and a four-year battle. The hearing was called in part because of the clash between a new Boeing plant in South Carolina and the NLRB. The NLRB is now dominated by Obama appointees.

Committee Chairman Rep. John Kline (R-MN) had this to say in the Daily Caller:

“Typically, when it’s a Republican administration, Democrats claim that workers’ rights are being denied, When it’s a Democrat’s administration, Republicans [do similar things.] When it’s a Republican administration, Democrats call for hearings on board members and I’ve complained about it. And, now, with this administration, I think we have an outrageous overreach of the Board.”

The following question was asked in a national survey:

Which possibility concerns you more: the federal government has too few regulations to hold private businesses accountable, or that the federal government has too many regulations that hurt the economy?

Those advocating for bigger government and more regulations will be dismayed at the results: clearly the majority are more concerned about the latter. By a margin of 55 to 36 per cent.

Wonder if the unions are using non-union workers to blow up those non-union-made rats to protest the non-union businesses.

Related articles: “War of the Worlds”: Boeing v. NLRB

Lawyers say unions using NLRB to bully employers.

Feds say unions have legal right to display giant rats.

NRLB actions hurt Michigan.

Crossposted at Unified Patriots

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Filed Under unions Tagged With Boeing, Craig Becker, giant inflatable rats, House Education and Workforce Committee, Mark Pearce, National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, Obama, Peter Schaumber, Rep. John Kline, unions, Wilma Liebman