November 18, 2009
Categories:

* Labor

SEIU Memo: 'Unions,' 'Employers,' out; 'Workers,' 'Corporations' in

A source who opposes the Employee Free Choice Act sends over a revealing internal SEIU memo that made its way into the hands of the opposition, and which details the language the union has been trying to use to shape the debate on the issue.

The memo reflects the fact that unions and organized labor aren't universally popular, and that Americans sympathize with -- especially -- small business.

"Anti-union," for instance, is out, replaced by "Anti-worker."

"Our union" and "labor" become "workers" and "working people."

"Employers" become "big corporations" or "corporate CEOs."

An SEIU spokeswoman, Christy Setzer, didn't challenge the authenticity of the memo.

"The Chamber of Commerce and their deep-pocketed friends have vowed to spend tens of millions of dollars trying to kill the Employee Free Choice Act through a slick misinformation campaign. Of course SEIU is working with our members to educate them about the bill and help them more effectively advocate for a voice on the job," she said in an email.

You can read the full memo here.
http://www.politico.com/static/PPM110_0 ... _memo.html

Posted by Ben Smith 12:44 PM

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/ ... ml?showall