Chamber Exposes the Truth Behind Labor Unions’ Claims

With Big Labor’s rhetoric against employers heating up, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has released a series of reports that refute labor unions’ biggest claims—that employees are unhappy in their workplaces, that unions are the ticket to the middle class, and that the current union organizing laws stack the deck against employees.

“Listening to the union rhetoric would give the impression that radical changes are needed in laws governing union organizing,” U.S. Chamber Vice President of Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits Randel Johnson said during a November 25 press briefing. “These papers demonstrate that the reality of the American workplace looks nothing like the version depicted by union propaganda.”

The first of the three reports shows that workers overwhelmingly are satisfied with their work lives. A 2008 Gallup Poll showed that 90% of those surveyed were satisfied with their jobs; 96% were satisfied with their co-workers; and 79% were satisfied with their boss or immediate supervisor.

A second report produces evidence that unions adversely impact jobs and economic growth. The 10 most heavily unionized states experienced a 2.77% increase in the number of jobs from 2001-2006 while the 10 least unionized states reported a 5.39% increase in jobs over that same period.

The final report tackles union claims that the National Labor Relations Act puts unions at a disadvantage and does not protect employees’ rights when choosing whether or not to be represented by a union. In fact, according to the report, unions have benefited from NLRA’s election process. Unions’ win rate in representation elections have increased significantly—from 48% to 62%—since 1985.

In the coming months, the Chamber plans to issue four additional reports that question the analysis of pro-union studies, state the real reasons behind declining union membership, examine the political and policy agenda being pushed by unions, and outline an alternative, positive agenda from the employment community.

Read the reports.

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