They’re back. Stung by the failure to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, unions are taking a new approach to sign up more workers: “We’ll protect you from unfair immigration laws.”
The latest union campaign feeds off the recent passage of Arizona’s law that allows law enforcement officers to detain anyone they have “reasonable suspicion” of being an illegal alien. Union recruiters are using the law to underscore two points to non-union workers:
- When your state passes a similar law, the union will be there to protect you and your job from overzealous police.
- Employers will prey on your fears by paying you less and giving you fewer benefits.
What’s really behind the push are raw numbers depicting current union membership nationwide (according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics): Hispanics, at 10%, make up the lowest segment of union membership but also make up the fastest growing group of worker in the U.S. Thus, a potential large labor pool — Hispanics — aren’t union members, and union organizers have taken notice.
Arizona, where the immigration law just passed, is a good example. Employment law attorneys there, speaking to the Phoenix Business Journal, report that they’re seeing stepped-up union recruiting that plays on worker fears about the law.
How can employers respond?
- Make sure your company’s I-9 forms and other employment-verification data are up to date and accurate,
- Educate employees about the company’s commitment to its workers.
- Educate workers about laws that cover immigration and employment. The more workers know, the less they’ll have to fear.
Interesting note: Most unions don’t require members to prove their legal immigration status.
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Tags: Employee Free Choice Act, immigration, union. Phoenix Business Journal
May 6th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
“What’s really behind the push are raw numbers depicting current union membership nationwide (according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics): Hispanics, at 10%, make up the lowest segment of union membership but also make up the fastest growing group of worker in the U.S. Thus, a potential large labor pool — Hispanics — aren’t union members, and union organizers have taken notice.”
Let’s see. Unions see a market and devise a strategy to address it. That is bad.
Ford sees a market and devises a strategy to address it. That is good.
Is there some aspect of business you don’t really understand?
May 6th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Unions don’t hire employees – employers do. They don’t fill out and certify the I-9′s, the EMPLOYERS do. Union efforts to prevent exploitation of illegal workers helps ALL workers.
Anti-union rhetoric and the baseless rumors about unions “not checking the citizenship status of illegal workers” hurts ethical contractors in the U.S. and helps the contractors that seek to bend and break all rules for profit.
May 6th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
The simple fact is that unions could do better by helping all workers (not just union members) prove the tactic many unscrupulous companies use during the bidding process.
Currently in Arizona the average wage for non-union workers continues to drop because contractors and builders force wages down to non-livable wages by taking the lowest bidder even when they know the numbers won’t even add up to even minimum wage for workers. For those who are in a union, good luck getting a job where so many non-union companies compete against you.
The real issue is the enforcement of immigration laws and getting rid of contractors and builders who are willing to take bids which are obviously too low to be reasonable. The answer is true enforcement of immigration laws so that those who are in a union can compete, which by default would bring all wages back up…
The answer is getting the few unions in places like Arizona to stand up against well funded anti-worker lobbyists. Just follow the money at the state capital to see who is really pulling the strings in Arizona and the country. You can bet it’s not “the people”.
If unions would stop acting so selfish about only “taking care of their own” then maybe more people would find membership in a union more agreeable. Perhaps unions might try recognizing that increasing wages for a few at the expence of the many will never score any points with the masses. Get rid of the mentality of saying you represent “all” workers when clearly the numbers indicate your not even close to helping all America’s workers…
May 7th, 2010 at 10:20 am
The Unions were a good thing until taken over by thugs. Their best days are behind them.