hotel asset managers association october 2009. major issues travel and tourism health care card...
TRANSCRIPT
Hotel AssetManagers
Association
October 2009
Major Issues
• Travel and Tourism
• Health Care
• Card Check
• Other Issues
Major IssuesTravel and Tourism
• Members of Congress travel-bashing (TARP guidelines)
• Society of Incentive & Travel Executives reports that the meetings, events and incentive travel was down by about 35% in first half of year
• U.S. companies canceled an estimated $1-2 billion worth of conferences in the first two months of 2009
Major IssuesTravel Promotion
• Industry responded aggressively, issued statements and board guidelines
• Guidelines distributed to Administration, Congress, AH&LA membership
• Rather than restrict travel, cite industry guidelines for cost-effective business travel
Major IssuesTravel Promotion
www.MeetingsMeanBusiness.com
Major IssuesTravel Promotion
Major IssuesTravel Promotion
Travel Promotion Act• Creates a public-private partnership to better explain U.S. security
policies and attract millions of additional international visitors
• In last Congress, passed House on voice vote, stalled in Senate
• Reintroduced as S. 1023. Senate passed Act 79-19 on Sept. 9.
• House introduction on June 18. House “blue-slipped” Senate bill in late September. Senate bill awaiting action in House.
Major IssuesHealth Care Reform
• President Obama Top Domestic Agenda– Universal coverage for 40 - 47 million lacking coverage– Control costs– Federal insurance program– Reform insurance industry
• Business Community Concerns– Can government run nationwide program?– How will this be paid for and will it bankrupt economy?– Will unfair government competition drive away private markets?– Can struggling businesses absorb new Government Mandate?– Will consumers have fewer health care options and lower quality?
• 3 plans – House Tricom; Senate HELP; Senate Finance
• AH&LA Supports:– Employer based insurance– Tax incentives to secure insurance– Small business pooling (SBHPs)– Market-based reforms to expand competition and choice
Major IssuesHealth Care Reform
Major IssuesHealth Care Reform
Baucus Senate HELPHouseWho is covered? 94% 97% 94%
(currently 85%)
Cost of Bill $856 Billion $615 Billion (partial plan) $1.5 Trillion
Employer Mandate No Yes Yes
Employee Mandate Yes Yes Yes
Pay for Options Surcharge on high None Proposed—rely on Income Tax;end health plans; Senate Finance Committee Business
Tax;Business penalty if nocoverage provided;Other Fees.
*public option defeated
Government Plan: No—Co-Op* Yes Yes
Major IssuesHealth Care Reform
Baucus Senate HELPHouseSmall Business Yes <25 employees Yes <25 employees No Exemptions? & <$40,000 avg. wage
Seasonal Exemption? No Yes <25 employees & 120 days No
Insurance Market Yes Yes Yes Reforms?
Bi-Partisan? ?? No No
Health Savings Accts. Yes Yes No & Flex Plan Reform?
Status In Committee Passed Committee Passed Two Committee; In One Committee
Major IssuesCard Check
So-Called “Employee Free Choice Act” would undermine 1935 Labor Relations Act
• Three basic components
• Private ballot elections in workplace replaced by public “card check”
• Mandatory binding interest arbitration by government in labor contracts
• Increased employer fines
Major IssuesCard Check
Paid union organizers
collect signatures
NLRB reviews signed
cards and schedules election
NLRB conducts private-ballot
elections
NLRB counts ballots, majority
rules
Employer must recognize union as legal representative and bargain
If majority vote for a union, then . . .
Current Workplace Election Process
• Government-supervised process, stringent guidelines• Employees freely vote their conscience in private• If 50% +1 vote to form a union, it becomes workplace representative
Major IssuesCard Check
Paid union organizers
collect signatures
NLRB reviews signed
cards and schedules election
NLRB conducts private-ballot
elections
NLRB counts ballots, majority
rules
Employer must recognize union as legal representative
and submit
If majority vote for a union, then . . .
“Card Check” Scheme
• No private ballot election• Organizers collect publically-signed cards from 50% +1• Union immediately recognized
Major IssuesCard Check
• If employer does not agree to union terms within 120 days of union recognition, a government-appointed interest arbitrator imposes a binding labor contract
• Workers cannot vote to approve contract
• Employer may not appeal
Major IssuesCard Check
• AHLA formed Coalition for Democratic Workplace to fight EFCA (www.myprivateballot.com) to run ads. Educated voters
• AHLA & others commission job study - Dr. Anne Layne-Farrar finds unionization of 1.5 million existing jobs under EFCA in year one would lead to the loss of 600,000 jobs by the following year (equal to the entire population of Boston, Mass.)
• Lobbying led to fewer cosponsors; House agreement for Senate first
• AHLA Resources: – Employer Video & Talking Points– Employee Video * (new in English/Spanish) Goal to educate employees about
the meaning of a “card” (www.ahla.com/cardcheck)
Major IssuesCard Check
• Targeting Key States – (EFCA needs 60 votes in Senate)
Tier I Top Senate Targets:
Arkansas: Blanche Lincoln and Mark PryorColorado: Mark Udall and Michael BennetNebraska: Ben NelsonPennsylvania: Arlen SpecterLouisiana: Mary LandrieuNorth Carolina: Kay HaganVirginia: Mark Warner and Jim Webb
Tier II Senate Targets:
Florida: Bill NelsonNorth Dakota: Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad
Tier III Senate Targets:
Alaska: Mark BegichNevada: Harry ReidOhio: Sherrod Brown
Major IssuesCard Check
• Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) switched parties; Kennedy death (Sen. Paul Kirk (D-MA); Sen. Byrd (D-WVa)
• Lack of 60 =Effort to find “compromise”• Mail-in ballots rather than card check (“post card check”)• “Ambush elections” rather than card check• “Last, best offer” rather than bill’s arbitration• Union access to workplace to campaign
• Any alternative must be outside context of EFCA
• Organized labor trying to keep it on the table; need to be vigilant
Major IssuesCard Check
• Employee Video
Hotel AssetManagers
Association
October 2009