Weekend Round-Up
Henry to lead SEIU: Politico's Ben Smith reports on the surprising elevation to SEIU President of California nurses leader Mary Kay Henry over Andy Stern protege Anna Burger. The move "turn[s] the giant union away from the Washington-based political and policy engagement that made it a major ally of the Democratic Party...." Regarding the impact of her election:
Henry remains a largely unknown quantity on the national political scene, and some officials predicted that she would allow power to return from the Washington headquarters to scattered local unions; others suggested she'd emerge as a charismatic, central figure in Stern's tradition.
NLRB This Week: Early in the week, the National Labor Relations Board issued its second decision since the President's recess appointments. In International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 513, AFL-CIO (Ozark Constructors LLC), 355 NLRB No. 25 (Apr. 19, 2010), the Board held that an IUOE Local violated Section 8(b)(1)(A) of the Act by imposing a $2,500 fine on a member for reporting safety hazzards as required by a collective-bargaining agreement.
Toward the end of the week, the Board issued a press release announcing that Hugo Boss and Workers United/SEIU had reached a collective bargaining agreement which would keep the employer's Brooklyn, Ohio plant open. Another release announced that a representation election will be held at University of Chicago Medical Center to resolve a disputed claim of representation between two rival nursing unions.
EFCA in Arkansas Dem Primary Debates: National Journal reports on last night's debate between Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and her primary challenger Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D-AR):
Halter went on offense first against Lincoln during a question about the Employee Free Choice Act, which is often referred to as "card check." He mentioned that she first sponsored EFCA, then opposed it and then "signaled" to Senate leadership that she would filibuster such a bill. Halter stressed that he would support what he's heard about a compromise unionization bill being worked on by Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) and that the original EFCA draft is a non-starter even among union leadership now.
That set up Lincoln for an easy body blow on Halter, saying, that she appreciated he "has seen that compromise because most senators haven't seen that compromise." She later added bluntly, "I don't support card check," saying that it "creates unfortunate divisions" though she did not offer specific details. Instead, Lincoln said more focus should be paid to the economy.
