Sen. Bernie Sanders No More Contracts For Union-Busters

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   Sharlee01posted 3 years ago

   
   Sanders urges Biden to block 'anti-union' companies like Amazon from federal contracts
   The senator from Vermont called Amazon the 'poster child for why an anti-union busting executive order is needed.
   
   Sen. Bernie Sanders is pressuring President Biden to take action against corporations that engage in union-busting, specifically calling out Amazon while urging him to ban such entities from receiving federal contracts.
   
   In a Tuesday letter to Biden, Sanders asked him to fulfill a campaign promise to cut off union-busting companies or those that break federal labor laws from obtaining federal contracts by signing an executive order.
   
   Most of the two-page letter focused on Amazon, which has engaged in aggressive campaigns to stop its workers from unionizing.
   
   "Mr. President: It is abundantly clear that time and time again Amazon has engaged in illegal anti-union activity," Sanders wrote. "Amazon may be a large and profitable corporation, it may be owned by one of the wealthiest people in America, but it cannot be allowed to continue to violate the law and the rights of its employees."
   
   He called Amazon the "poster child" for his anti-union busting executive order. Fox News has reached out to the tech giant.
   
   Amazon recently spent millions to fend off a union drive at one of its New York City facilities, where workers voted to form the company's first union. In Alabama, workers at an Amazon facility voted against forming one. 
   
   What are your thoughts on not allowing anti-union companies' government contrast?

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      wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      My first question is why, if Amazon is participating in illegal anti-union activity ("Mr. President: It is abundantly clear that time and time again Amazon has engaged in illegal anti-union activity,") they aren't in a courtroom defending their actions.
      
      Second, I strongly suspect that Bernies "union busting" is nothing more than actively presenting the companies side of a union try by employees.

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   Ken Burgessposted 3 years ago

   I would be interested in comparing benefits and protections of Union employees vs. those like Amazon and Twitter.
   
   I remember being fresh out of High School, I chose to work for Stop&Shop that had a Union, with great benefits Blue Cross Blue Shield, Dental, vacation time, good overtime, breaks etc. was there about a year saving up money before committing to school, and getting a new truck.
   
   Out of curiosity about 15-20 years later I looked into that job which still had a union, wages had gone down for the same job, benefits were not in the same class at all.
   
   And then there were all those employees that had worked their entire lives for GM to get their pensions and benefits, which I believe were lost when GM declared bankruptcy and the taxpayers bailed out the company and all those overpaid execs got to keep their jobs.
   
   I have a feeling if you compare today's Unions (not government/teacher unions either) to the benefits that are offered at Tesla or even Amazon you might be surprised at what you find.

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      Nathanvilleposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I do know what you mean Ken, when I started work the pay and working conditions of unionised businesses was significantly higher than non-unionised Businesses than they are now. 
      
      However, although the gap between unionised Businesses and non-unionised Businesses has narrowed significantly over the decades, the Trade union wage premium is still higher, which for people on traditionally low wages does make a difference.
      
      This Wikipedia article does make some interesting points on the subject:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_wage_premium
      
      Of course one fundamental political difference between the UK & USA is that one of the main political parties in Britain is the political wing of the Trade Union Movement; so that in Britain the Trade Unions do have a direct influence on British politics.
      
      The British Labour Party, formed in 1900, grew out of the trade union movement of the late 19th century, and is the political wing of the Trade Unions.   The Labour Party is a political party in the UK that has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists. 
      
      In British politics, Trade Union and the Labour Party Liaison Organisation is the co-ordinating structure that supports the policy and campaign activities of affiliated union members within the Labour Party at the national, regional and local level e.g. the Trade Unions have a significant say in formulating the Labour Party’s Policies, and in selecting its leader.

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