A New York Times editorial yesterday challenged President Bush to live up to his promises and sign the Employee Free Choice Act. The White House has threatened to veto the bill.
“If Mr. Bush were, as he claims, truly concerned about rising income inequality and truly committed to improving the lives of America’s middle class, he would support the legislation and urge the Senate to approve it.
“Labor unions have a role to play in helping to fix today’s economic ills — most notably, worsening income inequality, a problem that’s caused in part by unions’ decline and the workers’ resulting lack of bargaining power. What’s needed is a Congressional drive to help Mr. Bush see this obvious connection. The Senate should take up the House bill promptly and send it to the president for his signature.”
In public statements on EFCA, administration officials have taken cues from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business interest advocacy groups – hiding the desire for cheap, expendable labor behind feigned concern for protection of the secret ballot.
