How many of us won't go to India or won't ride the subway because of the threat of terrorism? Probably not many, but if the definition of successful terrorism is getting us to change our lives because of fear, then some terrorists have won hands down.
How many Kossacks worry about their online activities affecting their jobs? Do you guys worry that HR or your boss might be snooping your facebook or kos diary and factoring your political beliefs when handing out raises and promotions?
Do you talk to your co-workers about politics, or only those friends at work that you trust? How about your pay and work conditions? Do you look over your shoulder when asking how much coworkers earn, or are you too scared to even ask?
Its a subject that is frowned upon as polite conversation, and often firms have regulations against salary comparison, because it generally leads to someone discovering that they are underpaid.
But, its kind of interesting how labor groups are changing in the online era. For example, Facebook has a Starbucks Partnersgroup that has discussed work injuries, tip sharing and shift salaries. They've reminded folks to get out and vote. These folks probably don't think of themselves as a union, but they are engaging in activities protected by the National Labor Relations Act.
These folks could be black-listed by HR for engaging in precursor activity that might lead to organized labor. They could even be targeted for termination and fired for other reasons. But the Starbucks Partners and other similar groups cannot be fired cannot legally be fired for discussing pay or other-work related activities.
But fear and terror keep most employees from discussing work, even if they never go so far as organizing and seeking a labor contract. First off, its real hard to prove why you were fired, and if you can prove you were fired illegally you will only get lost wages and the opportunity to have your job back. This could take years, and you probably don't want to work there anymore.
President-elect Obama and most Democrats recognize that employees are at a huge disadvantage to employers when it comes to negotiating salaries and working conditions. The Democrats hope to protect your right to discuss work conditions with the Employee Free Choice Act, which enacts financially meaningful penalties for violating the National Labor Relations Act. You don't have to be a member of a union. You don't even have to have contacted a union. But if you're fired for discussing wages or work conditions, you will finally be protected.