SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Koch Brothers Rounding Up Employees' Votes
Brothers threaten employees of "consequences" if Romney doesn't win while preventing employees' free speech
Oct 14, 2012
An investigation out Sunday from Mike Elk at In These Times reveals how brothers David H. Koch and Charles G. Koch, the Koch Industries owners, are taking full advantage of the Citizens United ruling in attempting to control their workers' votes.
The findings highlight a lesser talked about effect of the 2010 Citizens United ruling. "The Supreme Court decision overturned previous FEC laws prohibiting employers from expressing electoral opinions directly to their employees," Elk writes.
Elk found that the conservative duo sent a mailing to 45,000 employees at Koch Industries subsidiary Georgia Pacific this month. In the mailing, President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Robertson wrote a thinly veiled threat that "many of our more than 50,000 employees" may "suffer the consequences" if the wrong president is elected. The mailing also included an anti-Obama editorial by Charles Koch, a pro-Romney editorial by David Koch, and a list of Koch-endorsed candidates.
The company further exercised its control this, Elk found, by implementing a new social media policy in which employees cannot post anything that might go against the Georgia Pacific "brand" or reputation.
"Even if I was at my own home, I can't put something up [on Facebook] against the Koch Brothers," AWWPW Local 5 President Jim Pierce, who works at Georgia Pacific paper mill, in Camas, Washington, told In These Times. "I don't post anything about the Koch Brothers. I could lose my job."
* * *
Up With Chris Hayes on Sunday morning detailed the investigation on the Koch brothers and similar behaviors by other companies:
Â
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
An investigation out Sunday from Mike Elk at In These Times reveals how brothers David H. Koch and Charles G. Koch, the Koch Industries owners, are taking full advantage of the Citizens United ruling in attempting to control their workers' votes.
The findings highlight a lesser talked about effect of the 2010 Citizens United ruling. "The Supreme Court decision overturned previous FEC laws prohibiting employers from expressing electoral opinions directly to their employees," Elk writes.
Elk found that the conservative duo sent a mailing to 45,000 employees at Koch Industries subsidiary Georgia Pacific this month. In the mailing, President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Robertson wrote a thinly veiled threat that "many of our more than 50,000 employees" may "suffer the consequences" if the wrong president is elected. The mailing also included an anti-Obama editorial by Charles Koch, a pro-Romney editorial by David Koch, and a list of Koch-endorsed candidates.
The company further exercised its control this, Elk found, by implementing a new social media policy in which employees cannot post anything that might go against the Georgia Pacific "brand" or reputation.
"Even if I was at my own home, I can't put something up [on Facebook] against the Koch Brothers," AWWPW Local 5 President Jim Pierce, who works at Georgia Pacific paper mill, in Camas, Washington, told In These Times. "I don't post anything about the Koch Brothers. I could lose my job."
* * *
Up With Chris Hayes on Sunday morning detailed the investigation on the Koch brothers and similar behaviors by other companies:
Â
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
An investigation out Sunday from Mike Elk at In These Times reveals how brothers David H. Koch and Charles G. Koch, the Koch Industries owners, are taking full advantage of the Citizens United ruling in attempting to control their workers' votes.
The findings highlight a lesser talked about effect of the 2010 Citizens United ruling. "The Supreme Court decision overturned previous FEC laws prohibiting employers from expressing electoral opinions directly to their employees," Elk writes.
Elk found that the conservative duo sent a mailing to 45,000 employees at Koch Industries subsidiary Georgia Pacific this month. In the mailing, President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Robertson wrote a thinly veiled threat that "many of our more than 50,000 employees" may "suffer the consequences" if the wrong president is elected. The mailing also included an anti-Obama editorial by Charles Koch, a pro-Romney editorial by David Koch, and a list of Koch-endorsed candidates.
The company further exercised its control this, Elk found, by implementing a new social media policy in which employees cannot post anything that might go against the Georgia Pacific "brand" or reputation.
"Even if I was at my own home, I can't put something up [on Facebook] against the Koch Brothers," AWWPW Local 5 President Jim Pierce, who works at Georgia Pacific paper mill, in Camas, Washington, told In These Times. "I don't post anything about the Koch Brothers. I could lose my job."
* * *
Up With Chris Hayes on Sunday morning detailed the investigation on the Koch brothers and similar behaviors by other companies:
Â
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.