AFL-CIONow Blog [1]
Congressman Phil Hare, a Democrat from Illinois, takes on Doug Stafford, vice president of the National Right to Work Committee, after Stafford repeatedly uses the term “union boss” during a March 10, 2010 House Education and Labor Committee hearing on collective bargaining rights for public safety employees.
The vice president for one of the nation’s most anti-union, anti-worker organizations showed what we knew all along: Those fighting workers and their unions oppose the democratic process.
During a hearing yesterday on a House bill to expand bargaining rights for the police and firefighters, Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.) exposed the myths and lies spun by the Big Brother-named National Right to Work Committee.
Doug Stafford, the group’s vice president, attempted to portray the bill as forcing “monopoly bargaining on every police and firefighter.”
Hare, a former president of and steward for his union, would have none of it.
The bill provides unions only will be established in places where a majority of officers and firefighters choose to form one, is that correct?
Stafford:
I believe that’s true, however….
Hare:
Can you point to anywhere in this bill that would force this union into existence against the wishes of majority?
Stafford:
Against the majority, no, but what about the other 49 percent?
Hare:
All of us are elected here by majority. I would assume, that wouldn’t be the majority rule? I mean if the majority of these folks want [a union], you’d find a problem with that?
Stafford:
Yes.
Case closed.