Costco, Starbucks and Whole Foods break ranks on unions

Complex union legislation is up for debate in front of Congress that would give unions a remarkably good deal to set up shop in companies where there is no organized labor. The two main features of the legislations are this: workers could "vote" for unionization via cards, and not full-blown elections; and binding arbitration would settle disputes between labor and management over the set up of a initial contract with companies that have not had unions in the past -- arbitration that would always begin after 120 days if the two partied have not agree on a contract.

Business interests argue that all unions would fight for unreasonable demands for four months, and the arbitrators would set up provisions in labor's favor and against the interests of employers. Bingo: organized labor has a contract at the end of 120 days, no matter what.