The State of the Unions

As speculation about the appointment of a new Secretary of Labor grows, media buzz also continues to surround the issue of "card check." Known by the delusory name, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), card check would significantly alter the federal labor law.

While private-ballot voting is a cornerstone of free and fair elections, enacting the EFCA would do away with the secret ballot portion of the union voting process. If the majority of workers signed cards authorizing a union representation, then the union would be certified as the sole representative for those workers.

Taking away the right of a company and its employees to request a secret ballot vote opens the door to intimidation and coercion. Supporters of this legislation say the EFCA does not specifically ban secret ballot voting but in fact union organizers--not the workers themselves--decide whether a secret ballot election should go forward. The EFCA also strips the right of employers and workforces to collectively bargain the terms of labor contracts. After 120 days if a union and employer do not agree on a contract, the government could impose binding arbitration.

Workers deserve the right to make personal decisions about their jobs in private with a secret ballot vote, without fear of coercion or reprisal from co-workers, union organizers and their employer. Any legislative proposal that denies a secret ballot election of workers or subjects employers and workers to mandatory binding arbitration is simply undemocratic.

For more information about card check and the Employee Free Choice Act, visit the ATA homepage. Additional information can also be found at the Web site for the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace.