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Profiles of the Anti-Union Network:U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
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Thursday, 04 October 2007 |
Big-Business Umbrella Group’s Anti-Union Agenda
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s most powerful business lobbying organization, has been campaigning against unions, fair labor practices, increases in the minimum wage, and legal protections for America’s workers for nearly a century. The Chamber’s anti-union initiatives are just one part of its multi-issue agenda. Unlike other anti-union organizations, this prominent lobbying force does not hide its alignment with big business.
Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Chamber has an annual budget of $150 million and 300 staff members. With President Thomas J. Donohue at the helm, annual contributions to the Chamber from its largest corporate members rose from $600,000 to $90 million in less than a decade. Since he took office in 1997, Donohue has built a more aggressive and politically-powerful Chamber not afraid to take on controversial issues at the request of its large corporate donors and the Bush White House. This direction has caused the Business Roundtable and other moderate members of the business community to distance themselves from the organization.
Even when Donohue first took office Business Week expressed caution at his “frontal assault on unions,” commenting that “Polls show strong public support for giving workers their piece of an expanding economic pie.” Although an increasing number of its member organizations pursue cooperative and socially-responsible labor relations, the Chamber continues to advocate against unions, and appears to be ramping up its attack.
In 2004, the Chamber spent $24.5 million lobbying the federal government.
The Chamber lobbies to oppose pro-worker legislation, including the Family Time and Workplace Flexibility Act, Fair Minimum Wage Act, and an expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Among the Chamber’s legislative priorities is opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, which would strengthen labor law and provide workers with the right to union representation via the card check process when a majority present signed union authorization cards to their employers. On May 4, 2006, the Chamber sent a letter to all Republican members of Congress urging them to support the Secret Ballot Protection Act, which would outlaw union recognition through card check. The Chamber also operates a website urging its members to pressure Congress on the issue. |
