The “Employee Free Choice Act”–better known as the Card Check bill–is a proposed law that would change how unions are allowed to organize workers in the United States.  As Americans, we have come to acknowledge that a basic right for our citizens is the right to vote secretly.  We do not go to the election board and loudly proclaim our vote.  We go to a curtained booth, and privately vote.

As a resident in Libland, I especially relish the ability to vote secretly, I do not prefer to face a lynch mob on the way out of the polling place.

So, why is it, that the Washington elite are striving to take away that basic right?

It is the unions, and the union money.  Maybe, at one point, unions were part of the solution.  But, in today’s world, they are more often part of the problem.  Car industry in trouble – look to the unions.  Education system in shambles – unions.

Coming up for a vote in the near future is the amusingly titled “Employee Free Choice Act”.

For information on this bill, from the US Chamber of Commerce, Click here.

“The “Employee Free Choice Act”–better known as the Card Check bill–is a proposed law that would change how unions are allowed to organize workers in the United States”.  Below, are some of the problems.

1. Eliminating the Private Ballot

Card Check would effectively eliminate private voting. 

Under the existing law today, workers have a chance to vote for or against unionization in a private-ballot election that is federally supervised. Under Card Check, if more than 50% of workers at a facility sign a card, the government would have to certify the union, and a private ballot election would be prohibited–even if workers want one.

By forcing workers to sign a card in public–instead of vote in private–Card Check opens the door to intimidation and coercion. Over 70% of  voters agree that a private election is better than card check.

Amusingly enough, originally, the private ballot election as it regards union membership was mandated TO HELP the unions.  With private ballots, the employers were not allowed to intimidate their workers.

How times have changed.  Faced with declining (voluntarily declining) union membership, the unions now want to force an open election (well, more specifically, they want to stop a closed election from taking place – the legislation states that if more than 50% of the workers sign a card, designating the union as their representative, then the Labor Relations Board SHALL NOT ask for an election, but should then certify the union representation).  Why?  So that they can intimidate the workers to vote for unionization.  Imagine having a big, union, heavy come to your home, and present you with a card to sign.  They know where you live, and they will know how you vote….  Comforting?

According to a 2004 Zogby survey conducted for the Michigan-based Mackinac Center for Public Policy, 78% of union members support keeping the current secret ballot system.

2. Government Arbitration and Control

Card Check could put government regulators in charge of private business decisions.

Once a union is certified, the business and union would only have 120 days to reach agreement, before facing the prospect of being forced into binding arbitration. This means a panel of government arbitrators who may have no understanding of the business could impose a two year contract deciding all workplace terms–without any vote by the company or its employees.

By placing government regulators in charge of a two-year decision, business flexibility is limited–at a time in our history when it is needed most. A recent poll found that 75% of voters believe government arbitrators should not decide the conditions of a union contract.

Since when has government intervention improved ANYTHING lately?  Do we really want them involved in employer/employee negotiations?  Do we really want to give them the ability to force a 2 year contract on a company?

How many companies would simply choose to flee to a more business friendly country?  I’m sorry, I’d prefer the jobs stay in our country.  Can you imagine John Kerry deciding what your benefit package should look like? 

3. Harsh New Penalties for Businesses

Card Check would unfairly punish businesses.

Card Check would impose harsh new penalties on businesses–but not on unions–for violations during the union recognition process. This is unfair, and potentially disastrous for small or medium businesses, who are not familiar with unionizing campaigns or the National Labor Relations Act. If Card Check passes, many of these businesses would be facing unionization for the first time.

So, only one side of the table will be penalized for violations.  Picture the Super Bowl played this way.  Only one team is slapped with penalties, while the other teams runs rampant across the field, doing whatever if feels like, because they know that they won’t incur any penalties.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to foresee the winner of that game.

Michelle Malkin has much more about this on her site. 

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