Why You Should Know About Craig Becker (and Why You Need to Be Worried)
by Brian JohnsonCraig Becker is President Obama’s nominee to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and you should be afraid…very, very afraid.
According to the NLRB website, Congress established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in 1935 to administer the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the primary law that governs relations between unions, employees and employers in the private sector. The Act guarantees employees the right to organize and to bargain collectively with their employers or to refrain from such activities. The Act, which generally applies to all employers involved in interstate commerce, implements the national labor policy of assuring free choice and encouraging collective bargaining as a means of maintaining industrial peace.
The NLRB has two primary functions: one, to prevent and remedy unfair labor practices, whether committed by labor organizations or employers, and; two, to establish whether or not certain groups of employees desire labor organization representation for collective-bargaining purposes, and if so, which union.
Becker will be the third person on the five person Board and the second Democrat thus giving them majority on the Board. To say that Becker’s views are “extreme” would be an insult. His views of employer-employee relations invites thoughts of hammers and sickles.
As the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Associate General Counsel, Becker has regularly advocated for inappropriate use of the NLRB’s power. In an instant of uncensored honesty, Mr. Becker wrote that employers should be barred from NLRB proceedings:
“On these latter issues employers should have no right to be heard in either a representation case or an unfair labor practice case, even though Board rulings might indirectly affect their duty to bargain.”
In Becker’s opinion, business owners, many of whom are small business owners that collectively employee 50 million Americans, have “no legally cognizable interest” in one of the most significant decisions impacting the potential future success of their company. But Becker takes his views one step further and would even deny employers the ability to alert authorities to illegal union activity during an election campaign saying:
“Similarly, employers should have no right to raise questions concerning voter eligibility or campaign conduct. Because employers have no right to vote, they cast no ballots the significance of which can be diluted by the inclusion of ineligible employees. … Because employers lack the formal status either of candidates vying to represent employees or voters, they should not be entitled to charge that unions disobeyed the rules governing voter eligibility or campaign conduct. On the questions of unit determination, voter eligibility, and campaign conduct, only the employee constituency and their potential union representatives should be heard.”
To suggest that employers should have no role in the unionization process, as Mr. Becker does, is a point of view that is outside of the mainstream and one that puts him at odds with the current practices of the NLRB.
Just as Mr. Becker views employers as obstacles to increased unionization, he similarly views workers ability to democratically choose union representation as problematic:
“Just as U.S. Citizens cannot opt against having a congressman, workers should not be able to choose against having a union as their monopoly-bargaining agent.”
Mr. Becker wholeheartedly believes that employers and workers preferences are second to union goals, namely increased membership. The NLRB is entrusted with interpreting and enforcing the NLRA, laws which apply to nearly every American business. As a member of the NLRB, Mr. Becker would be able to implement his radical ideas and shape labor laws for the indefinite future.
The Senate has scheduled a hearing on Craig Becker for Thursday, Feb. 4. Will they wait for the newly elected Senator from Mass. to be seated before a vote? Only time will tell…but until then, be very, very afraid.
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79 Comments
The collective is more important than the individual. That is the liberal ideology in all public matters. They have quite a different ideology in private matters.
And it's just being reported that they are trying to seat Scott Brown AFTER the vote. Pitchfork and torch ready to go.
I think of anyone, that Barrack Obama nominates or appoints to any position we should be afraid…very, very afraid!
yep be very very afraid…
He, it does scare the sheeeeet out of me. But then any and everything coming out of, from around Odumbo scares me. I see Odumbo as a man who if he has his way will at some point be a principal in the deaths of 10's of thousands of Americans. He is a dangerous thug. He is a punk, but he is dangerous and he has for the moment the hammer.
There is nothing this scumbag won't do if he believes it will drive another nail in Americas and American future. He is setting out to destroy our home security, financila security and any other form of security we have earned in this country.
I know I shouldn't resort to name calling its unprofessional, but often times the shoe fits, when it comes to Odumblo the shoe fits. I happen to call him as I see him, professional or not. He is a disgrace and that is the best Ican say about the punk.
Another dingleberry that’ll be hanging around the oval orifice.
Warning taken.
He may have the hammer, but we the people still have the sickle … (except we're a bit more technologically advanced than the commies, so we have guns instead…)
Somebody needs to quick flush before any more floaters make their way to the top.
Where is the poser able to find all these totally backward thinking giants?
If WE THE PEOPLE do not stop this madness NOW, we WILL wake up one day soon, to the USSA!!!
The unions are vehice way the far left is using to drive us to be a workers paradise like Venezuela. The problem is they are organized very well. We need to use the Tea Party and other grass roots type organizations to fight back. I'm not saying all unions are bad but the time they were truly needed has passed. They are desperate for membership to fund their socialist agenda and desparate animals are dangerous. Also, anyone who has owned a small business knows that unions are not needed to bring change. If you only have 5 employees and one is not happy you will know.
ya got workers and ya got sign carriers, seiu sign carriers remind me of the beggars nowadays with their signs
He has been a nominee and awaiting confirmation for almost a year. Long before Brown was elected, or even a candidate
Really bad timing from the AFL-CIO's Stewart Acuff today:
As Big Labor's nominee to the National Labor Relations Board, Craig Becker, has his Senate hearing this week, Stewart Acuff, the AFL-CIO's main point person in pushing the delusionally-dubbed (and recently doomed) Employee Free FORCED Choice Act shared the Big Labor backdoor strategy on Huffington Post.
It [sic] we aren't able to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, we will work with President Obama and Vice President Biden and their appointees to the National Labor Relations Board to change the rules governing forming a union through administrative action to once again allow workers in America access to one of the most basic freedoms in a democracy–the freedom of speech and assembly and association so that workers can build the collective power to challenge the Financial Elite and Get America Back to Work. [Emphasis added.]<e.>
As noted yesterday, the leopard (Becker) isn't likely to be changing its spots–despite what he tells the senators in Washington.
http://laborunionreport.blogspot.com/2010/02/afl-cio-mouthpiece-admits-big-labors.html
“Similarly, employers should have no right to raise questions concerning voter eligibility or campaign conduct. Because employers have no right to vote, they cast no ballots the significance of which can be diluted by the inclusion of ineligible employees. … Because employers lack the formal status either of candidates vying to represent employees or voters, they should not be entitled to charge that unions disobeyed the rules governing voter eligibility or campaign conduct. On the questions of unit determination, voter eligibility, and campaign conduct, only the employee constituency and their potential union representatives should be heard.”
Liberals should be executed. I will never hire a leftwing cockroach and I encourage small business owners to do the same.
If they have there way, we won't have our guns for very much longer!!! They are going after them now!!
Dudley Brown@nationalgunrights.org. Check it out.
I hope you all heard the lady that called in to Glenn Beck today. A private day-care provider in Ohio is being forced into a Union, because her payments are subsidized by the State. What's next?
What's next?
A violent backlash against the Left.
WE CAN NOT WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER!! WHERE ARE OUR HOUSE AND SENATE REPRESENTATIVES NOW? Come on ladies and gents, REALLY stand up for the people! Dems have the unions. You need to help the people that have built this country and that really love and care about it to unite and fight for our rights and constitution.
So what?
The Dems held up President Bush's nominees for all kinds of things, for YEARS ION END, some of whom removed their names from nomination. I hope that the GOPers do the same thing where Obama's nominees are concerned!
[...] MORE [...]
Not only should business owners NOT ever hire a damned lefty, but every should ONLY go to doctors and dentists who are GOPers, hire repairmen, plumbers, electricians, etc. who are GOpers. Any and all monies we pay a lefty WILL be used against us and this nation.
And hell yes, this is exactly what I do and have done for decades.
This will be very bad for all kinds of businesses and their employees, as well as for all kinds of consumers. God everyday I wake up there is a new real direct threat to my financial well-being. The threats are being created by my GOVERNMENT.
Unions pillaging my company.
HIGH Health Care premiums.
High backdoor taxes.
Stock market plunge everytime BO says something about banks.
Low interest rates.
Inflation.
Cap and Tax.
Iran foot dragging – 500 per barrel oil.
Government debt that SOMEONE will have to TRY and pay for, guess who? The producers and doers.
“Just as U.S. Citizens cannot opt against having a congressman…
Based on the current crop in Congress, this is a fact that many Americans are rather bitter about.
Yes, I am from OH and heard the woman caller. Gov. Ted Strickland passed an executive order FORCING Daycare Providers to join AFSCME. Effective April 2010, Daycares will be paid by the State and the union will automatically take their cut. This way the government gets their slimy hands into telling Daycares what needs to be taught. This female caller said they take in childrent from 6 weeks to school age children. As Glenn pointed out, the government really wants to take care of the children from "Cradle to Grave". Indoctrination will begin at an early age as in other socialist/communist countries.
REMEMBER TO VOTE FOR JOHN KASICH FOR GOVERNOR OF OHIO IN NOVEMBER!! Let's CLEAN UP Government and get PROGRESSIVES THE H*LL OUT OF OFFICE!!
Hmmmmm….I am a small business owner. The unions want to force higher wages and benefits to employees….in turn makes me non-competitive so no one will do business with me. Hmmmm…I took the risk, I built a business, I employed people at a reasonable wage for what they produced, (in reality we are paid by how valuable a service we provide), that is why a brain surgeon makes more than a janitor, maybe I should just close my doors. I don't see any benefit getting up in the morning to work my ass off all day, when my employees make more than I do, because of some union, and they still whine and complain, and I don't make a profit. Oh yea, the President and the unions think all of us evil business owners shouldn't make a profit. So how am I supposed to survive? Oh never mind me, I am just supposed to supply a high paying job to someone that the government and the unions has conditioned to believe they are entitled to. I think maybe we , the business owners should just say @#$#@#@#$$%%#$% and mind our own business. I am tired of taking care of everyone else.
[...] controversial nominations like Patricia Smith (as the Department of Labor’s solicitor) and Craig Becker before Brown could be [...]
"I don't see any benefit getting up in the morning to work my ass off all day, when my employees make more than I do, because of some union…"
And YOU are the one who has taken a huge financial risk just by being a business owner. None of this is right or fair.
And another shoe drops!
Geez- how many creepy, slimy tentacles(each shod the a fore mentioned appendage-ware) does this administration have? Every day my trepidation mounts….I hate to watch the news!!
Since I don't think anything is done without GREAT calculation, the question is: In this continual "piling on", one unbelievable, UNAMERICAN thing after another, are we being given the poisoned kool-aide one sip at a time to obscure our realization when we're nearing a lethal dose or are they incrementally testing, like the thug/bullies they are, to see how long it takes, what and how much it takes to reach THE TIPPING POINT? (natch – they'll be right there with a fuse & a BIG damn match & an excuse for martial law!)
Hello Kent State on steroids….
Remember when A Crock o'Bama said we need to build a homeland army. Hello, what's the National Guard? At least he hasn't had time to build his own SS yet!!! But it has started…oh, God, the times they are getting scary folks…I pray the polls are right about them comprising only 21% of the populace. But then, when they decide to move from the "power of persuasion" phase to the "persuasion of power" phase, where we may have numbers on our side – they have some VERY big sticks on theirs, plus they invented the game plan they've been working on for years! Hey, Janet Napolitano put us on notice this time last year – remember the "high risk advisory" to be on the look out for returning soldiers, militia, and pretty much any red blooded American…
I never thought I'd see the day I'd fear my government. I never used to have trouble sleeping – HOW THE HELL DO THESE BASTARDS SLEEP AT NIGHT!!!
No surprise here that Obama would select someone like this for the position. How much more does Obama have to do to show the country that he is a hardline Progressive Socialist. And when will media including Fox stop playing it safe (other than Beck) and start calling it like it is.
Everything he has done has been anti-American.
Without any job creation in this country, I wonder how the unions think they will represent anyone?
Just watch this on him……. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ia-l1RASG8
How to tell which is more relevant unions or businesses. Ask yourself this: If all unions go out of business, will there still be jobs? Then ask yourself, if all businesses go out of business will there still be jobs? Unions are leeches just like their larger philosophical bretheren, the liberals/progressives/socialists/communists.
We are BORG.
Right on 1redcent. The developers I work with are all hardcore Conservatives. Frankly, if you're a liberal you better not even step foot on one of their jobsites. Some of the most epic bloodlust rants against Hussein and the leftwing filth came from wealthy developers.
After Hussein and the media punked America I suggested that all employers walk through the employee parking lot and fire anyone with an obama bumpersticker. And fire them for cause denying them unemployment benefits. They vote to steal our wealth so phuq them, I wouldn't care if liberals eneded up penniless and naked in the street. I would actually be very pleased.
let everyone know how the local primaries work and when those elections are going to happen. Let them know NOW. Then only thing that will make 2010 a success is if everyone is prepared to vote.
people, the fate of the country for the next 100 years depends on your local votes for senators and congressmen. First there are primaries and then the actual race. Do the research about when and where to vote. Do the research and educate them about how the local elections work. DO IT NOW AND DO IT FAST!!!!
GO TO YOUR LOCAL STATE RACE TO VOTE. GO TO THE PRIMARIES AND THEN THE ELECTION. SAVE YOUR COUNTRY.
DONT JUST LET IT HAPPEN. VOTE IN 2010!!!
VOTE IN YOUR SENATE RACE IN GEORGIA. PLEASE, HELP SAVE OUR COUNTRY.
VOTE!!!!!!!!
There are senate races coming up in each state. First there are primaries and then the actual election. You need to understand that a senate and congress can block the presidents agenda. Help your country by voting in your local race in 2010. These people in congress and the senate can be voted out this year. There are races where they get elected. 2010 is when MOST OF THOSE ELECTIONS WILL HAPPEN.
Vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Save your country!!!!!!
its more serious then your realize. your future is at stake
Oh & another thing…Remember that fantastic President of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Harry Alford, who reamed ol' Babs "call me Senator" Boxer a new one during a Committee hearing? (Unlike Chris Mathews, she DIDN'T "forget for an hour that he was black".) In typical, totally obtuse, condescending fashion, she waves a letter, announcing it came from the NAACP, proving what? – she couldn't explain. She's a great friend of black people??….. It made absolutely no difference that the content was in no way germane to the subject at hand. In her conceit, she was clueless that she had demeaned him in front before the whole country. At any rate, he EXPLAINED it to her!!! It was a beautiful thing to see. It made my day – no, my week! I'm just sorry he had to go through that. I hope whoever runs against this elitist bitch plays that clip ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE_jGD5nZ6U ) over & over during his or her campaign!!! Mr Alford is a great American & a shinning example of this great country. Solipsistic ol' Babs is a tarnished example of the exact opposite….
Now, to finally get to the point. Unions suck for a lot of different reasons – but there's one I wasn't aware of – many are racist, having few or no black members. Mr Alford explained this on Glenn Beck (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCSrr4BM7Yc ) & others(http://www.thetruthaboutplas.com/tag/harry-alford... When I was trying to get his name I checked out his web site:
http://www.nationalbcc.org/index.php?option=com_c...
He has one of the best & most succinct explanations what a scam most unions are. All they really care about bleeding people for dues & power. Check it out.
I hope Harry Alford will run for office. He's the kind of person we need to replace the current nest of vipers…
Am I the only one getting fed up with "Executive Orders"? Tyrannical abuse of power by the Executive branch for decades and the Legislative branch does nothing to curtail the power grabs by numerous Presidents.
I like your thinking. Imagine my happy surprise when I went into my new Dentist's office last week and in the treatment room, he had Fox News going on! It was 3pm so it was Shep Smith and Studio B. Not my favorite, but it was still Fox.
My Opthamologist loves the Tea Party Movement also. Says he's a supporter of them.
“On these latter issues employers should have no right to be heard…"
“Just as U.S. Citizens cannot opt against having a congressman, workers should not be able to choose against having a union as their monopoly-bargaining agent.”
Huh? Employers have no rights? Workers should not be able to choose against a monopoly?
So who exactly does have the right? Ahhhhh. Bargaining agents. Agents have the rights. I see.
Folks. If the tide fails to wash this crap – these sinister "bargaining agents" – out to sea this November then you'd better be prepared for an exit strategy. I'd start drawing down on your 401s ASAP if it can be done w/o significant penalty. When the excrement hits the proverbial fan it will be too late because our Congress is plotting to restrict redemption.
You've been warned.
The Obama Unions are one of the MAIN ways they want to Socialize America
With 1/2 or more of government employees unionized and getting control of Healthcare and unionizing that also… America will be controlled through the private sector.
Look what is happening in California…. the unions are demanding all GOV't contracts to go to ONLY UNION employers….. JUST SICK.
CAN SOMEONE TELL ME..WHY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEED TO BE UNIONIZED ??… the government should be last employer to screw their employees on pay and benefits.
And they wonder why our economy isn't growing????? I'm not sure what type of business you own, or what state you're in, but perhaps you could restructure your business. It would take some planning and legal consultation, but perhaps you could close the current business entity; kick their complaining butts to the street; reopen under a different business legal entity and hire all employees through an employment service who employ the employees (they pay benefits, do the payroll, tax withholdings, etc.). You would not be the direct employer. If the employee screws up, you call the employment service and tell them you no longer want that employee working at you business. (I'm sure you could restrict all people to be non-union). It might be easier to do this if you moved your business to a Right to Work State. At least for now, hopefully they won't try to change states rights, but I'm sure they will try. Let's hope they won't confirm this jerk! I think you do have some options for now. Seek some legal advice, and you might be able to take your business in a different direction that will be profitable for you. Best of luck!
And we are only one year into this administration! Yes, it has certainly made many WAKE UP, as we never could have possibly conceived in our wildest dreams that this could EVER happen to our country. If you will notice the people (99.9%) posting comments here, you are not alone. Make your voice heard to people in Congress both D's & R's. Don't wait for the election(s) call, e-mail, fax everyday if you can to express your displeasure.
Don't give up, we CAN and WILL change this.
Becker? Where does Barry find these nominees? He sure knows how to skim scum.
Governor Strickland (OH) just signed an executive order to force ALL day care workers, paid by the counties to care for children of moms returning to school and the underemployed, to join AFSCME. No vote, no choice. These childcare workers get paid $10.00 per day for each child. Consequently being forced to pay union dues to AFSCME is going to take a huge bite out of their earnings. They already jump through a lot of hoops to do this work through the county and are highly regulated by the counties. Looks like "card check" is already in OH. He is so not getting my vote.
It is unbelievable that the Republicans are silent on this. Enought to dispair. Scott Brown, the new Paul Revere?
http://bunkerville.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/nlrb-...
You bet. I'm afraid of HIM!
I have advised all of my friends and family to vote 'republican" straight down the ballot, that is exactly what these idiots did to get Obama in, we have to take back the country. I would so like to be the WOMAN to escort this racist, know nothing, narcissistic pos off the WHITE house grounds……………his time is coming very, very shortly, you know we really don't have to wait til 2012 if we don't want to……………….
[...] Other related reading includes this post by Brian Johnson at Big Government: Why You Should Know About Craig Becker (and Why You Need to Be Worried). [...]
I wonder how much Mr Becker still receives from the Unions?
This may hurt a little at first, but I suggest any company dealing with the NLRB, or a difficult union close it's doors! Shut down, and say "sorry" you all loose your jobs. Nothing left to negotiate! Or just go and directly hire employees, side-stepping the unions. F'em.
Please let me know the name of your business so I can be sure to avoid it. If you are too cowardly to reveal yourself (your type almost always is) at least clue me in to what county and state you are in so I can drive around it if necessary. I am sure you will be happy to not be around me also.
Although I am not a union member, or a union employee, or have any affiliation, familial or otherwise, I certainly support an employees lawful right to bargain and freedom of thought. I also support the right to boycott any business ran by someone with such a hateful attitude about other humans. God forgive you.
Let me guess, you live South of the Mason Dixon Line. You are white. You are above the age of 40. You drive a truck. You have both a handgun and a rifle.
The Demographics are against you and the Repub Party. When you decide to leave the Right-Wing ideology behind and embrace TRUE conservatism perhaps there will be a change in this country. But if you think there is a dimes bit of differnece between the Repub party and the Democratic Party you are absolutely ignorant of the facts.
[...] Why You Should Fear Obama’s Nominee To The National Labor Relations Board On February 4, 2010, In Uncategorized, By admin Easy AdSense by UnrealRead more…. [...]
How can that be legal? So if the state pays the daycares, does that mean the parents get free daycare for their kids? How can a private transaction be transferred to government hands?
They have called not had the final vote yet. This needs to stop or it will be one morte piece in the obama puzzle.
Unions are one of the reasons manufacturing corporations exited the United States and set up shop overseas and Mexico depriving many Americans of well-paying jobs and Obama is beholden to them. They will hasten the demise of whatever companies haven't left.
Is this how conservative extremists fight by demonizing those they disagree with? Maybe the GOP sheep will accept the tactic, but don't expect anyone else to.
[...] [...]
[...] Becker, who, at least until recently, was longtime associate general counsel to SEIU. Becker is considered radical in part because he believes that “employers should have no role in the unionization [...]
[...] no “cognizable” interest in the outcome of union organizing drives and elections. He observed: [12] Similarly, employers should have no right to raise questions concerning voter eligibility or [...]
Umm you are not forced. If your workers attempt to unionize (which to me would imply your workers are not happy – I am happy at my job and I am not unionized and feel no need to, however I respect those that may need to fight for their fair pay) you have to make a good faith effort. If not, you can choose not to bargain, at which point your workers can leave (strike, whatever) and you are free to hire new employees.
Allow me to quake in fear! Oh NO! The companies shouldn't have a say in a process they don't have a vote in. Whoah! This is just crazy talk!
[...] [...]
Stay scared. Write real cool (inflamatory) stuff on the blog. Tea Party if you must. But your lack of grammar and spelling skills signals a lack of credibility. How can people who criticize be taken seriously when they can't even spell "criticize?" Also, argue the facts. It's not wrong or Communist just because a Democrat endorses it. We are a free-thinking society. Act like it.
Such elitist thoughts, including the idea that workers have no right not to be unionized, reflect a basic assumption of this administration. Will enough people go to the polls in November to put and end to this? We will see.
I hope Obama gets lung cancer and dies a long drawn out painful death. He deserves it.
[...] is considered radical in part because he believes that ”employers should have no role in the unionization [...]
If don’t want government in, try to keep up with yours bills, and don’t charge,
God Bless America
[...] union individual’s to positions in his administration. Just recently he appointed union radical Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The 5 man board now consists of 3 Democrat’s with [...]
[...] middle class worker. The recess appointment a year later of the wildly radical and socialist-minded Craig Becker to the NLRB (despite strong bipartisan opposition in Congress) was strike 2. The likely issuance [...]
[...] middle class worker. The recess appointment a year later of the wildly radical and socialist-minded Craig Becker to the NLRB (despite strong bipartisan opposition in Congress) was strike 2. The likely issuance [...]
I like this site and saw it on Yahoo search. I guess your thoughts on » Why You Should Know About Craig Becker (and Why You Need to Be Worried) – Big Government are right on. Thanks for writing about this and looking forward to reading more on your site.
I like this site and saw it on Bing search. I guess your thoughts on » Why You Should Know About Craig Becker (and Why You Need to Be Worried) – Big Government are right on. Thanks for writing about this and looking forward to reading more on your site.
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