Tweet
The American Family Association and other groups have come out virulently against the so-called Employee “Free Choice” Act, and in favor of the “Secret Ballot Preservation Act”. Why? Should we agree?
“Conservative types are always against anything that helps unions,” says union steward Diane Patton. “So, of course they don’t like EFCA, because it will make it easier for unions to organize.”
How will it do that, you wonder? By eliminating secret ballot elections in favor of so-called “card check” elections.
Under current law, a new union can only be certified by the National Labor Relations Board if 30% or more of the employees sign union cards. After this, the employees engage in a secret ballot election overseen by the NLRB, who can impose somewhat severe penalties upon employers who try to intimidate their employees. If a majority desire the union, the workplace becomes unionized.
Workers who don’t necessarily want the union might still sign cards to enable the election, knowing they can vote “no” in the privacy of the voting booth. This way, they are protected from harassment by union organizers.
Should the EFCA become law, these secret ballot elections will be a thing of the past. Workers will no longer have a right to privacy. Instead, a union will be certified if a majority (that’s 50% plus one) sign union cards.
Wait, sign?
Yes. SIGN the cards. In other words, the pro-union employees — the ones collecting cards – will know who voted for the union, and who was not interested in joining a union.
There will be no option to vote “no”. This isn’t a matter of the card-collectors turning their heads while you mark your choice; if you sign a card, that’s a vote for the union, and if you don’t, then that’s the only “vote” against that you have!
How would you feel if your vote in a Presidential election was based on a “card check”? Would you change your vote in an election if you knew the winner would know exactly how you voted?
Maybe you wouldn’t. Maybe you’d risk being blacklisted. Maybe you’d risk having your children harassed at school, and risk losing your job, and your home.
But maybe you’d think twice about voting your conscience, and instead vote for the candidate who was ahead in the polls . . . to protect yourself from retribution.
Still on the fence?
Let’s bear in mind that Obama’s nominee for Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis — the Legislator who was on the board of American Rights at Work, a lobbying organization, and who authorized funds to lobby HERSELF — is one of the key supporters of this bill. (See an earlier article on Ms. Solis.)
Think about it. Is this the America you want to leave your children, one where the ballot box is public, and voting is done under threat of physical violence? Do you want to start this trend toward false elections, like in Third World dictatorships?
Once you’ve decided, contact your Representatives and tell them what you think about unions taking away the right to a secret ballot! Then join the Facebook group, “The Employee Free Choice Act is Bad for America”!
“Conservative types are always against anything that helps unions,” says union steward Diane Patton. “So, of course they don’t like EFCA, because it will make it easier for unions to organize.”
How will it do that, you wonder? By eliminating secret ballot elections in favor of so-called “card check” elections.
Under current law, a new union can only be certified by the National Labor Relations Board if 30% or more of the employees sign union cards. After this, the employees engage in a secret ballot election overseen by the NLRB, who can impose somewhat severe penalties upon employers who try to intimidate their employees. If a majority desire the union, the workplace becomes unionized.
Workers who don’t necessarily want the union might still sign cards to enable the election, knowing they can vote “no” in the privacy of the voting booth. This way, they are protected from harassment by union organizers.
Should the EFCA become law, these secret ballot elections will be a thing of the past. Workers will no longer have a right to privacy. Instead, a union will be certified if a majority (that’s 50% plus one) sign union cards.
Wait, sign?
Yes. SIGN the cards. In other words, the pro-union employees — the ones collecting cards – will know who voted for the union, and who was not interested in joining a union.
There will be no option to vote “no”. This isn’t a matter of the card-collectors turning their heads while you mark your choice; if you sign a card, that’s a vote for the union, and if you don’t, then that’s the only “vote” against that you have!
The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) would disenfranchise 105 million American workers. For union organizing elections, the legislation would replace the secret ballot with a system of “card checks,” where union organizers pressure workers to publicly sign a card stating they want to join a union. Workers would never have the option of voting against union membership, and millions of workers could be forced into a union without ever getting the chance to vote on the matter. Congress should preserve a worker’s right to vote in privacy on union membership.
What do you think: Does that lead to a “free choice”? Or does it leave those uninterested in the union subject to harassment, intimidation, and potential job loss for not being a “team player”?How would you feel if your vote in a Presidential election was based on a “card check”? Would you change your vote in an election if you knew the winner would know exactly how you voted?
Maybe you wouldn’t. Maybe you’d risk being blacklisted. Maybe you’d risk having your children harassed at school, and risk losing your job, and your home.
But maybe you’d think twice about voting your conscience, and instead vote for the candidate who was ahead in the polls . . . to protect yourself from retribution.
Still on the fence?
Let’s bear in mind that Obama’s nominee for Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis — the Legislator who was on the board of American Rights at Work, a lobbying organization, and who authorized funds to lobby HERSELF — is one of the key supporters of this bill. (See an earlier article on Ms. Solis.)
Think about it. Is this the America you want to leave your children, one where the ballot box is public, and voting is done under threat of physical violence? Do you want to start this trend toward false elections, like in Third World dictatorships?
Once you’ve decided, contact your Representatives and tell them what you think about unions taking away the right to a secret ballot! Then join the Facebook group, “The Employee Free Choice Act is Bad for America”!
Comment