Who doesn't like Jake Jabs? He's been bringing trademark low, low prices to cost-conscious Coloradans (not to mention college students and transplanted Californians-turned-Coloradans) since the 1970's through his growing network of American Furniture Warehouse retail outlets. His business model works, and we hope those Swedes know what they're in for when they plant an IKEA in south Denver.
JabsFTS Staff Photo
Even with mattress-jumping tigers on his side - really, how can you beat that - Jabs doesn't have many fans in organized labor. Well, at least the half of union members who would still belong if given the option to leave. In a series of political ads that mimic AFW's line of commercials, Jabs is making the case for Amendment 47, the "Right to Work" initiative, that would give Colorado workers that choice. He says all of Colorado's neighboring states, except New Mexico, sport stronger worker freedom laws, and that puts Colorado at a competitive disadvantage.
"'Right-to-work' is good in tough times because it makes business more efficient," said Jabs. "The good, high paying jobs just aren't coming to Colorado in the last few years."
The American Furniture Warehouse CEO spoke to the media Tuesday at AFW's sprawling flagship store near Parker, laying out in clear terms about why he's become so vocal in supporting the initiative. Beyond guaranteeing employee rights, Jabs is concerned about what he says is growing, disproportionate union control of state government.
"The one thing right-to-work did is give a wake up call to what's kind of going on in Colorado," he said, referring to union-backed Democrat control of the General Assembly and labor-friendly Gov. Bill Ritter. "I think a lot of people in Colorado weren't aware of that [before]."
His American Furniture Warehouse chain of stores is union-free, and he says he isn't afraid of any efforts to organize his workers. Jabs says unions have little to offer his employees, who are free to interface directly with management without cumbersome union requirements standing in the way. "That's why we've grown from a one-store operation of 75...to one of the largest furniture stores in the United States."
Protect Colorado's Future, the union-backed coalition that has teamed up with left-leaning businessmen to defeat Amendment 47, alleges that right-to-work policies silence workers seeking safer working conditions. Jabs isn't buying it.
"Do they really believe Amendment 47 is going to hurt the firefighters or policemen?" he asked. "Come on."
A Better Colorado, the main campaign backing the initiative, has understandably stuck to its message of employee freedom. With his new ads and straight-shooting rhetoric, Jabs puts the rest of the puzzle pieces in place to paint a picture not only of employee coercion, but of a state controlled by a small cadre of labor bosses and their political allies.
"If there's an option, the companies will go to right-to-work states where they don't have to put up with strikes and union meltdowns, slowdowns and so forth."
Unions are no doubt bad for business. But it's the political "so forth" we're most worried about.
Coming to the Nuisance
On October 16th, 2008 Kenny Hall says:
There is a legal term that I think is analogous to the situtation when a person who doesn't want to be in a union applies for a job at a company with a unionized workforce... coming to the nuisance. If you buy a house that sits under the flight path of an existing airport, you have no claim against the airport for the noise. If you park your care at a golf course and the windshield gets broken by an errant golf ball, it's on you.
The same is true for those that apply for a job at a company that they know has a union. No one is "forced" to pay union dues... if you don't want to be in a union, don't apply for a job at a unionized company. Go down the road and apply for a job at a company where there is no union. Simple as that.
If you don't like heights, don't apply for the window washer job at the Empire State building. If you are afraid of drowning, don't ask for a job on a commercial fishing boat. Don't agree with abortion, don't get a job at Planned Parenthood or an abortion clinic.
Right-to-Work is a cynical, thinly veiled attack on unions. No worker in this country has an un-conditional right to work anywhere. They must agree to the many conditions of employment that the employer requires; take a drug test, get a haircut, OK a credit check, pay for uniforms etc... If you don't accept ALL the conditions, you don't get the job. Why is it different for the condition that you have to be in the union? It is an agreement between the employer and the employees and is nothing but another condition that an applicant must accept before being hired.
If you are morally opposed to paying union dues, do yourself a favor: when applying for a job, make your first question "Is there a union that I would have to belong to?" If the answer is "Yes" stand on your principles and do NOT accept a condition of employment that you find repugnant. Go find a job that does not require you to be in a Union.
unions
On October 14th, 2008 1uncle says:
I know that unions are a democrat special interest group but socialism draws no distinction between a union member and an illegal alien-even one of the few that are really working in the fields.
The plumber filmed talking to Nobama when 'No' said something about 'spread the wealth' was on Neil Cavuto today, 10-14-08, said that under 'No' he wouldn't make as much money. He wouldn't make near as much when socialism is way.
One size fits all.