House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives

Could it be the House Democrats are actually thankful for the opportunity to vote by secret ballot?  That's what the House Democrat Rules Committee Chair Louise M. Slaughter of New York had to say when asked about her votes on the Steering Committee in the Democrat leadership races.  Rep. Slaughter was quoted early this week in CQ Today's article titled "Dingell and Waxman Express Confidence as Vote on Chairmanship Nears":

“It’s a secret ballot,” she said. “Thank the Lord.”

What's that old saying?  "What's good for the goose...."  Apparently the same rules that apply to congressional Democrats don't also apply to hardworking Americans.  Labor unions have been openly pressing for enactment of so-called “card check” legislation in the first 100 days of the new Administration, and House Democrats are poised to do just that.

To read more, click here.

Posted in Card Check | 0 Comments | Permalink

Today's Wall Street Journal opinion page includes an op-ed that every Member of Congress should read.  Titled "Labor Unions Prolonged the Depression," the piece chronicles the devastating economic impact of the Depression-era Wagner Act and draws parallels to the deceptively-named Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that is widely expected to be at the top of congressional Democrats' legislative agenda in 2009.  The key paragraph:

If the mislabeled "Employee Free Choice Act," becomes law, it will likely have a similar effect on the economy as the original Wagner Act, transforming what could have been a recovery into a lengthy, deep recession, or worse.

Congressional Democrats are tossing about various options for an economic recovery package, and Republicans have now countered with a pro-growth package worthy of consideration.  But as the Wall Street Journal makes clear, no proposal to stimulate the economy will be sufficient to counteract the job-killing, worker right-decimating legislation now being advanced by Big Labor and their allies in the Democrat-led Congress.

Click here to read the full article.

Posted in Card Check | 0 Comments | Permalink

USA Today made a compelling case in an editorial today against the so-called “Employee Free Choice Act,” a bill that would strip workers of their basic democratic rights in the workplace. As this leading national editorial board highlights, the 'card check' system undermines a core democratic principle -- the individual's right to a private ballot.  This special interest power grab has consistently run afoul of public opinion, yet it remains a top priority of organized labor and their Democratic allies in Congress.  Might the steady decline in union membership have something to do with the aggressive advancement of this controversial legislation?  USA Today writes:

Labor has seen its role decline since the 1950s, when about a third of all private sector employees belonged to unions, compared with about 7.5oday. So it's understandably eager to find ways to expand membership, particularly at a time when workers are feeling economically vulnerable. But undermining democratic principles is not the answer.

Be sure to read the entire article by clicking here.

Posted in Card Check | 0 Comments | Permalink

It seems that every day brings a new critique of the cynical "card check" legislation passed by the House last year.  The latest ... Mickey Kaus writes at Slate.com:

It's a permanent structural change in the economy. With "card check," unions wouldn't have to win the right to represent workers in a regular secret ballot election. They'd merely have to collect cards from a majority of workers. ...

You can be against "card check" for all the various process reasons we normally favor secret ballot elections--privacy, freedom from intimidation--and still favor greater unionization of the American work force.

The "card check" bill isn't about helping workers, as its supporters contend, but about stripping them of their right to a secret-ballot election to boost the shrinking union ranks.  This isn't the change workers deserve.

Posted in Card Check | 0 Comments | Permalink

Ever since it was rushed through the House last year, the Democrats' "card check" bill -- deceptively named the "Employee Free Choice Act" despite the fact that it strips workers of the right to free choice through a secret-ballot election -- has been panned by critics of all ideological stripes.  The latest critique appears in today's Politico, in a piece written by John McLaughlin of McLaughlin & Associates.

Labor will spend exorbitant amounts of money to elect a Democratic president and to secure a filibuster-proof Senate, so the threat of EFCA being enacted is real. . .

Voters intrinsically support the concept of private ballot elections. They are worried about the potential of workers being coerced and intimidated under the card-check scheme. And they see little need to change the existing balance in current labor laws to make it easier for unions to organize nonunion workplaces.

More important, they resent and oppose efforts to take away an individual’s right to a private and secret ballot.

Luckily for workers, Senate Republicans last year blocked this Big Labor power grab.  As Rep. McKeon noted at the time, workplace democracy is still on safe ground ... for now.  Unfortunately, the threat to workplace democracy remains all too real.

Posted in Card Check | 0 Comments | Permalink

The Washington Post is carrying an op-ed today on the undemocratic 'card check' legislation, which passed the House last year over the strong objection of Republicans and despite overwhelming public opposition.  From today's piece...

...a card-check system would offer even more room for intimidation of workers. A union card can be signed by workers at any time during an organizing campaign, which can take many months. Union organizers can pursue workers in their homes, at churches and civic clubs, and at watering holes after hours. Workers' family members can also be intimidated during this process. So much for a "free choice" for employees.

Be sure to read the full article here.

Posted in Card Check | 0 Comments | Permalink