(Change to Win circulated the following news release on October 3.)
WASHINGTON — Change to Win Chair Anna Burger released the following statement on October 3 in response to the decisions by the Bush appointee-dominated National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in the “Kentucky River” cases:
“Today’s decisions are another example of the Bush Administration’s disdain for the rights of hard working men and women. These decisions, which if upheld would allow corporations to strip millions of hard working men and women of their right to unite and form unions, are illogical, dishonest and anti- democratic.
“Again and again, we see the body that should be protecting the rights of the working Americans who care for the sick, build our communities, and perform other essential jobs instead taking the side of big business. Adding insult to injury, the NLRB’s Bush-appointed majority reached its decisions without even allowing those workers whose rights are at stake the opportunity to be heard at hearings.
“By narrowly defining several broad phrases of the National Labor Relations Act, the Bush-appointed majority has created a blueprint for eliminating the right to union representation for most professionals and from millions of leadpersons and employees who are currently represented. Contrary to what the Bush majority says, this decision is not legally required, but is another in a growing string of decisions that further narrow the right to organize.
“Those that see reclassifying employees as supervisors as an easy way to deny workers their rights, will find many employees unwilling to trade their rights for a sham title. They will also find that these working women and men do not stand alone.
“Change to Win and its affiliated unions will fight these decisions, and will continue to work to unite working Americans for a voice on the job.”