card check

Labor Watch
A Republican plan to resurrect Obama’s assault on labor union democracy
The Obama administration promoted the “Employee Free Choice Act,” a deceptively named attack on secret ballots in union elections, among other bad labor policy ideas. EFCA deserved to die, but…
by Michael Watson on May 8, 2026

Labor Watch
Why Is Josh Hawley Bringing Obamanomics Back from the Grave?
Most of the time, Sen. Hawley is a strong voice for conservative policy, but in issuing his “pro-worker framework,” he has dug up the rotting corpse of one of President…
by Michael Watson on January 21, 2025

Labor Watch
Employee Rights Act Is Back
A new version of the the Employee Rights Act (ERA) was introduced in Congress this week. The legislation focuses on increasing the power of workers over labor unions and the…
by Michael Watson on April 21, 2023

Labor Watch
Assessing Big Labor’s Potential Dues Windfall
Since union strength began declining in the late 1950s, organized labor has sought to reverse its decline by numerous stratagems. The latest campaign, led once again by the SEIU, targets…
by Michael Watson on April 11, 2023

Labor Watch
NLRB Counsel Wants Card Check as Left-Wing Labor Pick Fails
Under the Biden administration, Big Labor has pressed its interests in several core issues of labor policy. We have previously noted labor union strategies to adapt to contemporary workplace relations…
by Michael Watson on May 26, 2022

Labor Watch
Core Issues in Labor Policy: Every Job a Factory Job
With the Biden administration and Democratic congressional majorities entering office with the backing of organized labor as a constituency they intend to reward and strengthen, supporters of employee freedom, American…
by Michael Watson on May 6, 2021

Labor Watch
Core Issues in Labor Policy: Independent Contracting
Independent contracting through internet applications (the “gig economy”) hurts Big Labor in two ways: First, the application platforms compete with old, Three Bigs–model unionized businesses. This is most visibly the…
by Michael Watson on May 6, 2021

Labor Watch
Core Issues in Labor Policy: Mandating the Closed Shop
For Big Labor, the closed shop debate is a simple one: They get more money from a closed shop than an open shop. Unions have battled state-level right-to-work laws with…
by Michael Watson on May 6, 2021

Labor Watch
Core Issues in Labor Policy: Social Justice Unionism
Big Labor’s institutional and alumni-network linkages with the rest of the Left propagate an ideology sometimes called “social justice unionism.” In social justice unionism, rather than focusing advocacy on members’…
by Michael Watson on May 6, 2021