-By Warner Todd Huston
The Cincy Enquirer gives us the inspiring story of a regular Joe just looking out for his own best interest. And his best interest, as far as he and many other of his coworkers are concerned, is to stay OUT of the United Auto Workers union.
Brian Howard is the operator of the website NoUAW.com where he helps keep his coworkers informed on the latest union machinations and news. But, he is often portrayed by the UAW and the media as, “big, bad Toyota preventing the union.”
But, Howard is not “Toyota,” he is just a worker that doesn’t want to be forced into a union. And he isn’t alone. The majority of the Toyota employees in Williamstown, Kentucky agree with him.
Fewer than 20 percent would vote to join the UAW, he said. “Hard-core, dead-set against it, I’d say 40 percent or more.”
“The UAW knows they do not have and will never have the votes to win an election,” says Howard’s co-worker Marvin Robbins. “So they want to take the rights of the workers away and not have an election.”
And, even more to the point the employees are getting sick of the UAW’s harassment.
“The majority are sick of the harassment,” Robbins said. “You would think the UAW would get the message after 20 years, but they are so desperate for membership they continue to show up where they are clearly not wanted or needed.”
The unions have little support in the Toyota plant. The employees are important to the management and the two work hand in hand.
But, the Cincy story gives us the problem that these happy employees face…
The UAW has been unable to get even half of Toyota’s Georgetown workers to sign cards in support. But the union could win anyway if Congress eliminates secret ballots.
The doublespeak “Employee Free Choice Act” introduced by Democrats would force companies to accept a union if 51 percent of workers sign cards in support. And it’s too easy to bully workers into signing cards.
Once again, I am struck with the hostility that unions and Democrats show “the people” that they claim to represent. You see, Democrats and unions aim to take away your freedom of choice. They hate your ability to decide for yourself.
Let us hope that these vicious measures can be defeated. It will be folks like Brian Howard and his NoUAW.com that will lead the charge.
Good luck, Brian. You’ll need it.
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Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as newsbusters.org, townhall.com, New Media Journal, Men’s News Daily and the New Media Alliance among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events. He has also written for several history magazines and appears in the new book “Americans on Politics, Policy and Pop Culture” which can be purchased on amazon.com. He is also the owner and operator of publiusforum.com. Feel free to contact him with any comments or questions : EMAIL Warner Todd Huston