I am very glad to see interest in this type of discussion. I don't think Unions in general, do a good job at PR. Thank you to the Ohio poster for a clear definition of the pending legislation. I believe that anything that allows workers to safely, without threat of job loss, to vote on weather or not to form a Union is a good thing. If not this legislation, then better legislation would be good. When Union membership is up, the middle class is strong.

I have taken part in many organizing efforts, some successful, some not, but I have never witnessed any behaviors from the UAW that I would not be proud to be a part of. I have however, seen intimidation and dirty tricks from management groups that would make your hair stand on end.

I have cried with a strong minded single mom who just was fired because she was labeled a Union sympathizer, for exercising her right to support the Union. I knew full well that with the labor board stacked with anti-union Bush appointees it could be a long time, if ever that she could get her job back.

Sadly, my childhood neighbor back in NY owned a Beer distributorship. He spent millions on a "West Coast Consultant firm"(Ohio will know the consultants I am talking about), that promised to squelch any effort to organize his business. They followed the children of sympathetic workers home from school, spread awful lies about workers and wound up in a confrontation that ended with a mysterious attack on two outspoken workers landing them in the hospital. That money could have been better spent negotiating a fair wage and benefit agreement for the workers.

Our Union has negotiated a concession contract with for the few workers left at our plant (From 11,000 in 1977 to 2000 today) to cut in half their wages, provide only single health coverage, and no pension other than an self funded 401k, to help them out a bunch of bad business decisions followed by the slumping economy.

I hope those jobs are as important as the banking jobs are to the government. They are looking for loans, not gifts if I understand what the big 3 are asking for, and I hope that any help will be tied to job creation here in the US.

What could be a better investment than one in the industry that helped this country win WWII? If all of our factories are over seas, next time where will Rosie the Riveter work?