Policy Papers
Policy Brief #17: Card Check Will Harm, Not Help, American Workers
by Allison Kasic
February 26, 2009
Executive Summary
The secret ballot process is fundamental to American democracy. It ensures that individuals can vote their conscience with a shield of privacy. For more than sixty years this simple principle has been central to workplace unionization debates. But the Employee Free Choice Act aims to rob workers of this essential protection.
Instead of secret ballot elections (or any election, really) a union would be recognized once a simple majority of employees sign a union card. This process, known as "card check," is done publicly and leaves workers vulnerable to harassment, coercion, and other abuse (from either union organizers or companies) to either sign or not sign a card. The bill flies in the face of American democracy and is riddled with many problems, including concerns of legality. Studies indicate that the card check process does not accurately represent workplace preferences regarding unionization and many fear that the elimination of elections will lead to a more, not less, politicized workplace.
Simply put, American workers would be worse off under the Employee Free Choice Act.
Attached Files
- Card Check Will Harm, Not Help, American Workers By Allison Kasic, PDF, 164.9 KB
by Allison Kasic
6 Comments
GregoryMc | March 2, 2009, 1:22pm | #
Totally absurd. The results of the "card check" are not public--read the Act itself. You really do not support the right of workers to have a say in their employment conditions.
Simply put, American workers including all women, will be better off under the Employee Free Choice Act.
You cite no actual supporting facts for your position to the contrary.
The IWF is supposed to be a "non-partisan" organization, but you reflect the anti-union policies of conservative Republicans. The GOP has not had a good idea in 30 years. --G
Jeremy Utley | March 2, 2009, 4:47pm | #
please read the text of the act before commenting on it. The only changes being made are stricter punishments for employers who violate the existing NLRB rules and letting employees not just employers choose whether they want a secret ballot or not.
p.s. women and minorities benefit the most from union membership
Wintery Knight | March 4, 2009, 11:21pm | #
Isn't it ironic that the economic ignorance of EFCA-supporters will actually cause the outsourcing of labor to other countries? If EFCA is passed, some companies will just shut down and ship their plants and jobs overseas, where labor is cheaper.
Why should workers be forced to sign away their own earnings to unions to support political activism for things that have nothing to do with employment benefits and everything to do with left-wing activism?
I think wisdom is the skill that a people develop in life that enables them to understand how the world works, so that they do not destroy themselves with their own actions. Wisdom ecompasses morality, but it also includes knowledge of economics. Ignorance is dangerous to the ignorant.
By the way, did you see this neat video produced by the COC here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45yi7PMYMPY
Howard Rampy | March 13, 2009, 6:20pm | #
It is the absolute power grab that the democratic party is drowning in. Greed and pay back time from oBama for the union rewards for his election. He has got to pay them back,,,,, with your money.
Joan Mathis | March 18, 2009, 11:32am | #
Why does congress use false titles to name scaary legislation? Examples include the "Employee Free Choice Act" which will deny employees the choice of having a secret ballot, the "Fairness Docterine" which attempts to silence unfairly the free speech of ONLY radio talksters...There are others that come to mind! I never assume the title of a congressional bill has anything to do with the contents of same.
eric petraitsi | April 7, 2009, 10:14pm | #
The "card check" procedure is just the first step in the process of employees making the choice to unionize their workplace. Once a certain percentage of employees fill out a card that shows their interest in a union, then the process can start. The union then meets with management to begin negotiating a contract. Once both sides agree on a contract, then a SECRET BALLOT election is held to ratify the contract with at least fifty-one percent approval by the employees in the bargaining unit. I don't think the proposed legislation is going to change this. It is going to prevent employers from harassing employees who check the cards to start the process, not prevent employees from voting on a contract through secret ballot. I would think the IWF would be too smart to fall for this attempt to confuse the issue, so wages can continue to stagnate in this country. Which I believe is not very "family values" friendly.