Corporate Funding Behind Anti-Union Smear Campaign

A business hatchet man for hire with ties to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — and clearly well-bankrolled by corporate interests — has launched a vicious anti-union campaign this week starting with full-page ads in the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal.

The ads, which ran Feb. 13, showed a "Closed" sign over a padlocked gate and said such signs are "The New Union Label" and "Brought to you by the union 'leaders' who helped bankrupt steel, auto, and airline companies," and advertised a website, www.unionfacts.com.

Among other things, the so-called "Union Facts" campaign plans to push for a Republican bill to ban card-check organizing, the New York Times reported.

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said sources told the federation that state Chamber leaders in Florida announced at a conference last month that they plan to spend $8 million a year on the campaign, though national Chamber officials deny involvement. Whoever is paying, Sweeney said, it's "clearly bankrolled by business interests threatened by workers' efforts to roll back corporate power."

The Washington Post reported that the lawyer behind the campaign is often connected to controversial campaigns including one that that challenges Mothers Against Drunk Driving and its efforts to reduce drunk driving accidents.