Business Groups Pissed That Anyone Dare to Advocate for Workers

Advocates for Workers Raise the Ire of Business. (The New York Times, 1/16/2014)

According to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce report, "The Emerging Role of Worker Centers in Union Organizing", worker advocacy groups have received $57 million in support from 2009 to 2012.  To acknowledge their good works, I list the contributing foundations mentioned on pages 16 to 20 of the report.

• Ben & Jerry Foundation
• Marguerite Casey Foundation
• Discount Foundation
• Ford Foundation
• General Service Foundation
• Hill-Snowden Foundation
• Kellogg Foundation
• Kresge Foundation
• Mertz-Gilmore Foundation
• Moriah Fund
• Nathan Cummings Foundation (Sara Lee Corporation)
• Needmor Fund
• New York Foundation
• Norman Foundation
• North Star Fund
• Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation
• Open Society Institute
• Public Welfare Foundation
• Rockefeller Foundation
• Surdna Foundation
• Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program Grants

New York Times reporter Steven Greenhouse spent some time with the shameless Mr. Berman (a.k.a. "Dr. Evil"), a prominent Washington lobbyist.  The following slide provides a quote from the article cited at the top of this post.

With this next news item, it's clear why Berman is on the warpath.

Big business gave $185 million to political groups in 2012.  (CBS News, 1/16/2014)

It's called deflecting attention.  Some of the biggest corporations in the U.S. poured at least $185 million into political nonprofit groups in 2012, according to a new analysis from the Center for Public Integrity.  (Dark Money Inc.)

And here's the U.S. Chamber's recent contribution to our federal elections.

Source:  Open Secrets (Center for Responsive Politics)