I’m a member of two performing arts unions. I pay dues to two organizations that actively support efforts to influence producers to hire fewer actors of my gender and race. They also spend millions of my dollars supporting candidates and issues which are anathema to me. Here’s the latest example: The first letter below was sent out to all AFTRA members urging them to send this form letter supporting Card Check to their representatives in Congress. They urged us to customize the letter so it wouldn’t look so “form,” so I did! I don’t think my letter is what they had in mind. I urge all SAG and AFTRA members who are readers here to do the same.
Original Union Version
I am writing to voice my support for the Employee Free Choice Act which has just been reintroduced in Congress. If you haven’t become a co-sponsor, I urge you to do so. And if you’re already a co-sponsor, I hope you’ll do everything you can to encourage your colleagues to get on board.
The economic tailspin has put the middle class, our country’s backbone, in peril. Rising health care costs, home foreclosures, stagnant wages, and shrinking retirement plans are all taking a huge toll.
To revive the economy and rebuild the middle class in the long term, we need to empower workers to negotiate for better wages and benefits.
The Employee Free Choice Act will do just that – allowing workers to form a union when a majority of them want one. It will also stiffen penalties on employers who harass, intimidate, and fire workers for their support of a union.
The Employee Free Choice Act is a critical piece of our economic recovery. I’m confident you’ll continue to represent the best interests of workers in your district by supporting it.
The Jeffrey Jena Version
I am writing to voice my contempt for the Employee Free Choice Act which has just been reintroduced in Congress. If you haven’t become a co-sponsor there is a chance I may vote for you, I urge to show your support for the secret ballot in America.
The economic tailspin has put the middle class, our country’s backbone, in peril. Empowering unions to run rough shod over small business will even further cripple our chances for recovery. Rising health care costs, home foreclosures, stagnant wages, and shrinking retirement plans are all the result of too much government in our lives. We don’t need Washington smashing its fist down on Middle America.
To revive the economy and rebuild the middle class in the long term, we need to empower business owners to fire up the engine of our system, small and medium size businesses.
The Employee Free Choice Act is Communism at its finest! We already have a system that allows workers to form a union when a majority of them want one. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!
The Employee Free Choice Act is almost as stupid as the bailouts you have already enacted. I’m confident you’ll continue to represent the best interests of workers in your district by voting against it!