Obama also has a long history supporting workers struggles. He’s walked our (picketline in Chicago ) and he even spoke at our union’s founding convention when UNITE and HERE merged.

Of course its our job (labor and the netroots) to help educate the public and expand the movement to get the Employee Free Choice Act passed. FDL has done an amazing job with its labor coverage and I do believe that makes a difference.

The term “card check” is not loaded. JoeJoeJoe (above) makes a correct point. When I got my Masters degree with a specialization in Industrial Relations in the late ’60s it meant what it means now, namely a method of employees expressing interest in unionizing by signing petition-like forms, or “cards”. When I worked for a short time for the NLRB the term had the same usage. Later, when doing a research paper on a Supreme Court case involving unions’ right to fine (and sue) members who crossed picket lines, the UAW leaders I talked to discussed “card drives” as part of the union’s solicitation efforts.

I became less involved in Union matters many years ago (career change), but not before I did a project with the CWA in the late 80’s — going on the road in a van for weeks with union leaders to local chapters, as an expert resource, to discuss principles of alternative pay structures, including incentives. The goal was for the union learn what their members would prefer they bargain for. Great memories, but some of the “late night” stories will not be told publicly.

To the issue at hand …. Under current law if 30% of those potentially represented by a union sign up in support of it (via cards, if you will), a secret ballot “representation election” is held, supervised by the NLRB with union and company “watchers”. Prior to the election, NLRB regulations specify the kinds of things the employer is allowed and not allowed to say and do or be subject to Unfair Labor Practices charges. Way back when I conducted some of that kind of training for management and supervisors, so as not to get crossways with the NLRB or the union organizers. Hasn’t changed much in that regard insofar as I know.

I’ve always felt that the NLRB-supervised secret ballot representation election mechanism was an enlightened approach. Moreover, it seems to me we should expect some convincing rationale be offered before changing from what we’ve had for all these years. Where is that presented? I’d like to know before I go off and start sending letters to Capitol Hlll denizens.

In my personal opinion, we need to ignore this “secret ballot” bullshit. By focusing on the fallacy of this talking point, we’re just playing into their media frame. We need to just constantly drive home the point that Employee Free Choice will rebuild the middle class. Period.

Sen. Ted Kennedy, 6/22/07: “In 1947 to the early 1960’s, Mr. President, right in here, we had effectively what we call the card check-off, which is the subject of the legislation that we’ll be voting on next Tuesday. Interestingly, the card check-off was in effect all during this period of time, from 1941, 1946, 1956, up to 1961, we had virtually the card check-off.”

Taylor also repeats the meme that the secret ballot would be lost, as well as the GOP’s claim that it will uniformly oppose Employee Free Choice, while Democrats will be strongly divided on it. Time, indeed, for labor and progressives to reframe this issue more accurately.