If you believe that America is a free country, please read
on. This past week, the Republican-controlled House voted to stiffen fines for labor
picketing. Michigan already has laws that prohibit intimidation and violence. And more.
Currently,
it’s a misdemeanor for strikers or demonstrators to hinder or prevent the pursuit
of lawful work. Violators can get jail time and a $500 fine.
The legislation sent to the Senate would raise the fine to $1,000
per day. Unions and organizations sponsoring a picket would be fined $10,000
per day.
The issue is whether a protest can block a road or block an
entrance. If that is so important, why limit the bill to labor protests? Why
not all protests— for example, aggressive picketing by anti-abortion groups?
Michigan is moving in the direction of China, a Communist
nation that heavily restricts labor rights. The AFL-CIO (still a legal labor
group in the U.S.) reports on Chinese labor in these terms (and I quote):
China does not yet meet international labor law
standards. Workers cannot freely choose
their collective bargaining representatives and lack laws requiring employers
to collectively bargain with employees.
Most workers in China’s factories, mines, mills, warehouses, docks and
transport hubs still have little or no say in selecting their union
representatives, and no means, short of stopping work, to bring recalcitrant
employers into direct negotiations over industrial grievances.
Workers do not have the right to organize in trade unions of
their choice…. The lack of proper representation is reflected
in the number of protests and labor disputes that have been rising over the
years…. For too long, the wages of Chinese workers have been suppressed due to
the lack of freedom of association. Wages would be higher and rising
faster if the Chinese government secured the fundamental freedoms of
association and collective bargaining for its citizens. The AFL-CIO will
continue to work with allies to raise these critical issues with the Chinese
and American governments and fight for the freedom of Chinese workers to
exercise their basic human rights.
****
When labor protests are criminalized, this not only limits
speech—it also sets a precedent for other protests to be criminalized.
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