The deceptively-named Employee Free Choice Act, also known as Card Check, has been introduced into the U.S. Congress. The passage of this act was a campaign promise of Pres. Obama, and is a top priority of organized labor leaders.
The act would radically change the current process for organizing elections in the workplace. Such elections, in which workers vote either for or against collective bargaining with the employer in their workplace, are currently secret ballot votes. The new law would allow for employees to be asked to sign a card indicating their preference as a public act in the presence of union organizers. This would have the effect of putting significant pressure on workers to vote in favor of a union, whether or not they truly desire to be represented by the union.
The Wall Street Journal reported some encouraging news on this proposed legislation.
At least six Senators who have voted to move forward with the so-called card-check proposal, including one Republican, now say they are opposed or not sure — an indication that Senate Democratic leaders are short of the 60 votes they need for approval.
A unified effort by the Senate Republicans to block cloture on this bill would be a tremendous victory for the party and for the rights of workers, as the bill is a stunning power play on the part of labor leaders to coerce more workers to support union organizing efforts.
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