Labor battle looms in Congress

From Walters

Card check, wether excluding small business or not is payback for union support in the election. this will drive all business into the same mess that detroit and the car industry is in.

From Gary Portland, Oregon

This legislation would not be needed if management had played fairly in the past. Intimidation and threats to influence the election process have made the EFCA necessary.

From K.A. Pickl Livonia Michigan

Over my dead body !

From John Louisville KY

I thought democrats were such champions of privacy. So how come they are so eager to deny the fundamental privacy of the secret ballot ?

From howard, Pittsburgh, PA

a 2nd comment on this.
if it passes and is signed into law, i think that big business and other smaller business groups will appeal through the judicial route. at least that's the buzz.

From howard, Pittsburgh, PA

if we don't have the right to a secret vote or ballot, we have just thrown a few hundred years of US history down the drain.

i've worked in a lot of union situations and know the bottom line.

From Barbara Tice,Rochester NY

I believe it is the right of every american to vote ( secret balot) without fear or pressure. If we agree to waive this right is then the next step a card count for prior elected official like the president and congress???

From Woodchopper

Amen to that!!!. It isn't taking him anytime to show his true colors.

From Ken, Kissimmee, Florida

This card-check law would hold a shot gun to the head of all employers. An owner has the right to employ whom ever he wants and pay them a fair wage for each catagory/field of work without government intervention. Without this being understood there will be no employers and no jobs.

From David Dawson-Jamestown N.Y.

It would be very interesting to see how the liberals would react in Congress if their staff employees unionized and they were forced to deal first hand with unions. The real problem is that almost no member of Congress has had to deal with unions, because they have never run a business.

From sunny, troy, mi

Obama is doing everything to hurt the business in USA and punishing the business community. Here are the steps obama is doing to make this country a third world and poor country:
1) Raising taxes on the most sucessful people.
2) CEO's and top executives are treated like crooks.
3) The person whose mother lived on welfare without contributing anything to the society, wants to reward the useless welfare and lazy people.
4) Punish the hardworking people and reward the welfare, ADC , lazy people and loosers.
5) Already american manufacturing base is destroyed due to lawsuits and unions. Now he is eying the retail and small business.

Electing obama is turning out to be a major mistake for america.

From Lalo, Drexel Hill, PA

EFCA – The New Giant Sucking Sound!

From andrew baldwin farmerville louisiana

Unions must have the cardcheck law (where their union goons can see who signed the cards and how they voted) because in a workers' free election with secret ballot the unions lose. No thinking person wants to be under the thumb of union mafia greaseballs.

From Dana, Colorado Springs, CO

Card Check,if adopted, will be another
nail in the small business coffin. It is a blantant attempt at payback by the Obama administration to the unions for their enormous campaign contributions. The American Auto Industry(or the burnt out husk that remains)is a shining example of the self-centered union mentality, and how truly destructive it is to business. If the once mighty Big Three Auto Makers can't withstand union treachery, how can small businesses possibly survive? STOP meddling in the marketplace and attempting to ruin the engine that runs America's economic prosperity!

From Rodrigo, Alexandria, VA

Unions can't compete today, so they want to change the rules. And unions can't compete because they haven't adapted to a 21st Century, dynamic global economy. Workers don't join unions anymore because the union doesn't do a worker any good who will have a dozen different employers in his career. A business that was losing market share like unions have over the last half-century would adapt, modernize its products, operations, etc. Unions have refused to modernize themselves, and so they want Congress to bail them out through the EFCA. NO MORE BAILOUTS.

From Mike, Winchester, VA

EFCA would disenfranchise workers TWICE – workers would no longer get to choose whether to join a union or not, AND they would no longer have any say in the contract being forced upon them by an arbitrator. Get ready to be unionized against your will, America. Atrocious.

From Tom, Syracuse, NY

This just tells us how ignorant our members of Congress are to our rights to vote in secret. Big brother is coming and our so called fellow citizens who we elected to represent us have let another deep pocketed special interest group control them. I don't want anyone knowing how I vote because I do not need the threats and stress. When I vote in secret, only I know how I voted and I can tell both management and the union whatever I want to keep them off of my back. I already know what the union does to coerce people and I care for my family and property. This would be devasting and I cannot believe we have supposedly intelligent people thinking it is a good thing. Quit voting with your pocket and have some ethics. Enough said.

From Bob Figy, Mountain View, CA

I am a department head with union employees in a health care environment. I have also worked in non-union environments as well and in my opinion unionization has lowered the performance standards of our employees. Unions foster a mediocre work force as they do not support pay for performance and under performers are too often sheltered (one of their major selling points is "we will protect you even if you aren't doing your job") by the union instead of being held accountable. We hear in the news every day about how our American jobs are going oversees and how other countries are eclipsing our good old USA in quality and productivity and it's easy to see why. Labor unions have done nothing but drive up the cost of labor and lower the quality and standards of the American workforce. They do not play fair or by the rules and the difference between organized labor and organized crime is that we have legalized extortion for the labor unions. Look what's going on with the auto industry and right in the middle is UAW looking for us to bail them all out when we can clearly see that the foreign brands being manufactured right here on our own turf can produce a better product with half the labor cost. Now we looking at the potential for new legislation to give these unions even more opportunity to diminish the American work force. When are our leaders going to wake up and see the truth?

From Rob, Canada

Unions are a disease to the economy. Just look at what they have done to the Auto Industry. Unions have been good for raising the working standards of the average person over the years, but when a union is given too much power greed sets in and it becomes an all out assault to extract the maximum compensation and benefits from the employer.

From max j. castillo imperial, calif.

i own a construction co.,a convenience store and a 1/3 interest in a small hotel. we are just getting by. if the current administration is truly interested in having small business survive, then why try and pass this crazy piece of legislation. the way i see it , i see it as a poison pill that will do nothing other than create add'l cost for small business and increase labor ranks. the only reason this may pass is because we have a president and secretary of labor that is in dedt to the unions.

From Michele, Guilford, CT

I agree labor unions are taking another stab at survival and are opportunistic in this recessionary period to take advantage of "small business" bringing in $xxx annually. I find the spirit behind the re-run of labor union in Congress ill-spirited and malicious in nature. My hope is the Act does not pass. I think each one of us needs to see where our Congressperson sits on this issue and make it known to them a yes vote on this may make or break their next time around in office. I also think we need to think better of ourselves as employees to assume we can be intimidated easily by unions and two-faced when it comes to our relationship with our employer. If that is the case then we have bigger problems in the workplace than labor unions taking advantage of the situation.

From Billy Boston,Mass

"Screw Unions- It for dumb people who don’t know who to compete in a free market. They want to get paid a fairly descent wage for something that can be done usually by a person with no education! "

Spoken like a true whiny rich kid. They want everything for free, but make carloads of cash. I am unionized, and when I go into a house to do a repair, I am there because someone can't do my job therefore I should be paid appropriately. BTW I actually have a college degree,and went to a fairly prestigious exam high school in Boston . I chose to work with my hands instead of sitting behind a desk, I like the autonomy of my job.

As far as secret ballots go I work for a nonunion shop, and you want to talk intimidation. They threatened us with losing our jobs any time talk of a union was stirred. The times we did have meetings with union reps there was no intimidation, it was like dealing with a banker who wants your business.

From Dan, berthoud, Co

1. There is nothing wrong with the secret ballot system we have now.
2. If they want to be "fair" they should also have a "card un-check", i.e., an option to not-unionize or to get rit of a union.

From Doug Purnell, Conyers, Georgia

Workers played a significant role in America’s struggle for independence. Carpenters disguised as Mohawk Indians were one of the groups at the Boston Tea Party in 1773. In these days, working conditions and pay were dismal for the American worker. In the early years of the 19th century, efforts by the unions to improve these situations through either negotiation or strike proved to be very successful. During this period there was a definite need for economic and legal protection of the working people from the exploitation of the employers. Paid vacations, health insurance, pensions, and sick leave did not become commonplace in American workplaces because of employer generosity, but rather because unions fought for them and won them for their members.

However, for the last forty years, there has been a steady decline in both union membership and influence. This needs to increase drastically for the American automotive industry if they are to survive in the more global or “flat” world we live in today. The unions are no longer needed as today’s worker tends to be more educated and professional. Labor unions in the United States today function as legally recognized representatives, or groups of workers, in numerous industries. The problem is that unions are not working toward the goals or objectives of the organization and have instead, ratcheted the American workers’ wages to such a level that profits can no longer be made. What you see now in many industries is the success of labor over the last thirty-years coming home to haunt them. Unions raised their wages substantially above the wages paid to nonunion workers. Therefore, many union-made products have become so expensive that sales were lost to less expensive foreign competitors and nonunion producers. This resulted in companies having to cut back on production, which caused some workers to lose their jobs.

The unions also promote animosity and hostility between the workers and management, which impedes the organization’s competitiveness. The less productive worker that has more seniority has precedence over the more productive worker with less seniority. Those employees with poor performance, attendance, and attitudes are impossible to replace. I’ve worked for General Motors and have witnessed it first hand and it is absolutely pathetic. It’s no wonder and an absolute shame that the American automobile is synonymous with poor quality. Yet, the Asians and Germans are building automobiles in the US with American (non-union) workers and they don’t have these issues.

Although poor management should be blamed as well, the recent financial issues with the “Big Three” are yet another example of the damage done by a dinosaur thrashing on the edge of a tar pit of a new millennium. The new EFCA should be banned and so should unions.

From Jamison, Barstow, Ca

As I understand it; many years ago the Congress screwed up and allowed that a state could vote on allowing unions to have a monopoly within a state. Effectively doing away with an America's 'Right to work' by not allowing him or her to have employment without paying Union extortion in exchange for employment. Here we go again with the undermining of American freedom and supporting false economy if this law is passed. Forget 'buy Amaerican;' you just don't get value for the dollar. Most of it is eaten up in Union packages that are not on PAR with the main stream. Unions have falied to adapt. That is why their membership is so low. Until they restructure and look at job stability – not just ways to take out more while putting in less; these groups will remain a struggling dinosaur.

From Dennis, Reston, VA

This will further hurt American companies and force more to seek solutions overseas. As usual, Congress has their collective heads in the sand and are oblivious to what goes on in the real World.

From keith carson manchester,ct

Union management is just as greedy as corporate management. They will do whatever they can to keep or get a bigger piece of the pie. The problem is the unions have done enough harm here in America. We need them over in these emerging countries, India, China, etc and to wreck havoc there on management. Let them raise the standard of living for those workers so at least the playing field is level. They have put us in a very difficult position here which will only continue to add to job losses as companies continue to outsource.

From Bernard Brothman, Morris Plains NJ

Group intimidation and forced choice is a better way to put this. This is awful and undemocratic. Why not run all elections this way. This is another way the governing party can exort dues from new union conscrpts, er I mean members, to further the lefts political ambitions.

From Jeff, Atlanta GA

Not allowing, indeed requiring, secret ballots is insane. Why are political elections done as a secret ballot? To prevent pre-election intimidation and post-election retaliation against the ones who did not vote for the winner.

Same thing in the union votes. This right of both the employer and the employee to demand a secret vote is critical. If Congress passes this legislation, everybody except the labor union loses.

From James, Montana

I do not agree with the card check as some have said already, there is no good way to remove the union. That is not freedom of choice.

They have had their place in history and in some situations may still apply, but the general agreement is that they breed mediocrity not creativity. Do just enough not to get noticed and things are just fine…doesn't sound like the America I know.

From Mike Toledo, Ohio

Vote Union. Reward mediocrity

From Scott, Alexandria, VA

Never understood what is wrong with the secret ballots – just like when we vote in every other type of election it is not over a beer in a bar – but in a private booth with no one else intimidating you.

Hilda Solis is probably not the right choice for Labor in the US.

From Brian, Quakertown, PA

Unions are based on intimidation. That is their only product. They want people to join so that they can intimidate business and politicians. Of course they will try to intimidate people into joining and/or shunning those who do not join. Without the secret ballot you are enabling bullies to terrorize otherwise satisfied workers.

If the working conditions are bad, the union will form with the secret ballot.

From Ray, Havertown, Pa

Why can't we have an EFCA for union decertifications? If unions could be decertified by cardcheck alone, union bosses would be in for quite a few surprises. The UAW,for one,would probably be decertified out of existence.

From SS in NYC

welcome on board comrade to the new Socialist Republic of the United States (SRUS). You all asked for it by voting these people into office. Now now you got it. You got change; from bad to worst – in my view! I am taking my $,$$$,$$$ and moving to nowhere Alaska or Australia as far away from this crap as I can get. Good luck!

From Charles, Nashville, Tennessee

Unions are like members of Congress. They don’t show up to work, they vote for the most stupid things, the pass laws the majority don’t want, they are overpaid, they dont listen to their constituents, they are difficult to fire….hmmmm I see a connection here. Unions are useless! They drive are jobs overseas!

From James Moore, Piney Point, MD

If you're at money.com complaining about unions then you must have a really nice job and have above average income. What would you do if you lost you're job? would you change career fields, or sell your house and move? Yes, the freedom of choice act isn't good legislation. but unions are beneficial to union members, not white collar yuppies who monitor investments at money.com. Unions are for people in a trade. Not desk jockeys who spend their time monitoring their investments. If you don't like unions then do everything yourself and complain about high gas prices, inflation, Excessive CEO pay, and health insurance costs.

From Bryan, Columbus, OH

The check is wrong for everyone. The unions use this to trick people that do not know better. I have work for 2 different unions and they were good in the times that they were needed. When there are good companies out there that take care of their employees a union does not need to sneak around to undermine management. If the secret ballot is so good then they shouldn't need a check card.

From keith, Worcester, MA

for far to long business has had the upper hand and look at your present situation. it is time for the worker to have there say on the job. it is time for the division of labor to be stopped and for workers to become more creative on the job. it is time for us the majority to decide not some crooked CEO who is out of touch with the working people.

i am a union carpenter, i get a raise every six months. i still have my pension intact, my annuity is still guaranteed and if i need to go to the doctor my health bill will be paid.

you to can enjoy the same benefits as i when the opportunity arise to vote us for membership when the organizers come to your door. dont worry, EFCA will pass and the workers will have there voice heard!!!!

do

From Bob, Lynchburg, VA

I've been in a union twice. There is intimidation. What's wrong with a confidential ballot?

From Dennis T. Long Beach CA

Screw Unions- It for dumb people who don't know who to compete in a free market. They want to get paid a fairly descent wage for something that can be done usually by a person with no education! Come on how can you expect a cashier getting paid $20 a hour when a high school kid can do the job. In turn those higher wages hurt the consumers (US) because we have to pay these Union workers more money or else they will walk and strike. I hope the law does not pass. I am Democratic but I am totally opposed to Unions except in certain areas such as schools as the teachers deserve to be paid a decent salary as they are shaping our next generation.

From John, Cincinnati,OH

If supporters of the EFCA truly believe the secret ballot election is so flawed that it should be replaced by the card check, then why would they still force secret ballot elections on employees who no longer want to be represented by a union? The fact is that the secret ballot election is the fairest way to determine whether nonunion-represented employees want to be represented by a union, or whether union-represented employees no longer want the union to represent them.

From Roger St. Paris

Just seen a headline where US Banks lost 26.2 billion dollars last quarter, must be those Union workers the banks got working for them. How about the insurance giants. They charge those outrages fees and they still need a bailout? What Union do those workers belong to?

It was mentioned in a earlier post about Home Depot would not be able to stay open if their workers were in a Union, but they can fire their CEO and give him a $200 million plus severance
package…HMMM? He was rewarded for doing a terrible job.

Say an auto worker makes $25 per hour. Say the company pays $2000 per month for his insurance (family plan), thats $24,000 yearly, $462 weekly, about $12 hourly. Add the $12 insurance and $25 wages together, you get $37 in wages and benefits per hour. The companies always put out numbers like $80 to $90 because they must add in all the other salaries of non-union workers.

Do I believe that we should have card checks or secret ballot? I believe secret ballots should be enough, but companies have bullied and threatened employees to the point that they are scared to become unionized. If companies would remain neutral, and let employees have secret ballots without intimidation, then that is all they need. But sometimes that is not enough.

From Annie, Rochester, NY

Silly people, unions are only for people who can't be outsourced. All you manufacturing, technology and service workers better get ready to pack up if you unionize. You'll be out of jobs and standing in the unemployment lines.

From Coray, Carrollton Ohio

I was of the understanding that it would be up to the workers if the ballot was secret, and not up to the employers. That is what the ad they are running on television says, and I don't know if it is true or not. On the topic of unions, I personally don't think that they take anymore money from the businesses then the people who think they should earn money for having money yet doing no work. (I.E. The whole concept of Wall Street and investors) However I can see how that would make a bunch of useless middlemen unhappy when they might actually earn less money for not doing anything other then trading paper, while the person who actually contributed to society and made a real product, earned a little more. Go Figure!

From jeff bonita springs FL

Keep the secret ballot. It's the only way workers will be free from intimidation.

From Sean Stott, Springfield

Waht's so un_american about "majority rule? There's a reason why a majority of workers say they would belong to a union, but don't. It's because employers threaten and coerce workers from doing what they want to do in the first place. If a majority of workers want sign a card to be in the union that should be it. Don't let corporations hire their $200 per hour attorneys to tell them how far they can push the envelope of coercion. many times

From arthur, logansport, indiana

You mean like GM had the union "watching our over them"?

From Mike, Yardly Pa.

For Jakobe in Flagstaff Az. Wake up. The indimidation and pressure are applied by the labor organizers and the employees they have made promises to (to be Shop Steward,Liasions or some other self serving title that says he/she no longer have to work for their money)if they assist in getting the union in the door. The indimidation and peer pressure of an open ballot would be tenfold! Unions are a business, a big business. They are a business that is on the brink of extiction, just as the industies that they have a hold on (see airline, auto et, et). Their CEO's and management are as self serving if not more then any corrupt and dimwitted CEO or excutive we have seen in the news. Check card will set this nation back 100 years just like it has done to the domestic auto industry! That is why 93% of the nation is union free!It would be higher if employees currently in a union had a CHOICE!

From Steven, Portland, ME

Wonderful! Take away the right to a secret vote. Sounds pretty un-American to me. But hey, it's the Unions we're talking about. Nothing American or common-sense about it.

I'm also surprised that if only 7.5% of Americans are union members, why does Congress think that the other 92.5% want this to be supported? I guess it's kind of like the ongoing bailouts; Congress doesn't really care what any American really wants.

From Booty Malone Fairbanks, AK

Union busting lawyers are to blame for this as much as anyone. Currently any decent sized company can keep a union at forever by legal wrangling. Just let a legimate vote take place and keep the lawyer out it and will work. The law needs tweaking not a major redo with no ballot.

From John Pinto, Greenwich CT.

We'll get to be a French colony yet .Anyone follow what happened to Lucent when it merged with the union strong Alcatel? Are there any Bluedogs left to vote against this manure?

From Todd, Columbus, Ohio

This is just another example of how the Democrats want to fulfill their socialist agenda – this time by renaming the issue. Lets relabel welfare as 'tax cuts' it doesnt really matter that many of the recipients dont pay any taxes. Now we will take away secret ballot elections for unions – we'll call the legislation 'The Employee Free Choice Act' Who can say no to that?

Next up, eliminating secret ballot elections for all political offices. ACORN will be there to help you fill out your ballot so you get it right – Democrat & Unions the whole way. I wonder what they will call that piece of legislation? The American Free Choice Act?

From Eric Troup

A secret ballot has been the most important mark of a free society. It is fundamental to America's form of government. The secret ballot thwarts intimidation and coercion. It is never unfair! Only those that cannot honestly recruit votes in support of their positions argue for the elimination of the secret ballot. For communists and dictators everywhere, the secret ballot is a threat to their existence. So it is for the unions. They cannot win their argument in the free market of ideas. Thus unions seek to kill the freedom of secret choice so that they can brute force their way into power.

If passed, this will become another marker of the end of the American experiment. For Democrats to support and actually vote for such a bill is fundamentially treason.

From kevin kluesner dubuque iowa

The secert ballot is absolutly needed. The officials elected in this country are afforded the same right when they are elected. I would also challenge any elected goverment official to say how this has impacted them in thier life. Does anyone in our goverment have any personal experience working a job that was in the process of unionizing If they did they would see the importance of a secert ballot.
Lastly, why do Democrates think that the answer to improving workers rights are unions? Why not just past laws to protect workers without unions? The only answer to this question is that the unions are a money raising arm of thier party.

From Cambridgian, Cambridge MA

The Card Check Law will harm big and small businesses alike. Want to know why Union Membership is down ? It's not hard, Union Membership is down because US Manufacturing Employement is Down… Now Why's That ?

Is isn't hard to calculate the economic cost of restrictive job classification systems, document the inmpact of higher prevailing wages and greater company borne health care and retirement costs embedded in Union contracts. This says nothing about the added overhead of Union mgmt and lowered motivation or even open antagonism between Union Employees and Employer – but those costs are real too. Mgmt was dumb enough to agree to many of these items at threat of strikes but the Unions determined their own fate.

Sure, there have been and are abuses from both Management and Unions but Secret Ballot is the best system yet divised to counter such abuses. Removing it opens the employees to graft or abuse from both sides – Secret Ballot rids use of that.

Bottom Line : Unions are no longer beneficial to either employee, employer or the USA. Let's not be stupid enough to layout the red carpet for them !

From Gary, Chicago, IL

I'm a Democrat but this one I don't understand so maybe somebody can help me. I can't think of another situation where a secret ballot isn't the best option. If an employee wants or doesn't want to unionize, why is having that vote public in the best interests? If I were to hazard to guess the origin of the secret ballot, I would have thought it was to protect pro-union employees from employers.

From Bob, Denver, CO

There is no way that this bill should pass as it is written. Removing the secret ballot goes against the very priciples on which this country was founded. Everyone should be able to vote his/her own conscience without fear. Removing the secret ballot would remove that right. There are places where unions can do good, but they have driven the manufacturing sector in this country into the ground. Fair pay is given by many companies to non-union employess since they know that there is open competition for the worker. Toyota and Honda are prime examples of companies with non-union shops that more than compete with the UAW shops and they'll never have to worry about legacy costs incurred due to unions. Work hard, save your money and don't expect hand-outs and you can live well. NO to removing the secret ballots.

From Dave – Columbus, Ohio

I work for a company that offers its employees one of the higher starting hourly rates in the area, has tremendous benefits, and treats their employees with trust and respect. We strongly believe in promoting from within and, unless you're a total schlub, will receive regular and competitive pay increases.

Yet the union STILL wants in our facilities even though we pay better than many of the union shops in the region.

If they make it into our shops, we'll work with them. But then either our customers or employees will suffer. We either keep our prices the same and have to let go of some employees or we raise the prices on our customers.

Unions were very important when they started. But they are an anachronism today. Unions may not be the main reason we're in this economy today but don't kid yourself that they are blameless.

A friend of mine who is a union employee was physically assaulted when he had the AUDACITY to pick up a piece of trash off the floor on his way to break. He was assaulted (thrown into a wall) and screamed at for taking someone else's job. …Really? That's what we need? Intimidation and threats of violence? (And don't kid yourself into thinking it doesn't happen.) How is that good for the employee OR the company?

From David Gardner, Wilmington, IL

I own a small business that has only one employee and me. I like it that way, but would have and have had more employees than that when we had the business. With things being slow right now we can not have any more people. But was a union member about35 yeas ago. I was a hard worker at that plant, and would do what ever needed to be done. The old union members took note of this and took me aside and told me to slow down, as I was making the rest of them look bad. I let him know that it was he who was making the rest of them look bad, or themselves, not me. I was there at the whim of the company. His name was not on my paycheck, but a man from the company had his signature there. I resented the fact that people would not work up to there potential but expected good pay as if they did work hard. I left there after only one year of employment. The rest of them left about 2 years later, when the company shut down. I always thought it was the union who was to blame for this loss of jobs to our community. The article told us that 92.5% of american workers are not union members. When will the other 7.5% get a clue?

From Ron Hubert, Wayzata, MN

If this bill passes it will continue the decline and destruction of American. The unions destroyed the airline industry, the automotive industry and basically American. They have forced companies to give into their demands in fear of the workers going out on strike. If the companies would have stood up to unions for the last 30 years we would not have the auto companies that are basically bankrupt. Wake up in government, the house and senate have lost touch with business, they want to run then ruin everything. Another sad day in history.

From Bryan, Denver, CO

Once more we're seeing who actually runs the Democratic Party. This bill will create more job losses in an economy that has already been hit with millions of newly unemployed in the last four months. The unions won't be happy until all companies are like General Motors, where employees earn $70 an hour and the company is on the brink of going out of business.

From Steve Gergens Dallas, TX

I am not pro business but I think it is only right that a business owner should be allowed to ask for a secret vote. Unions promise the employees the sky while they wine and dine them and they mostly feel beholding to them. They lose face if they don't follow through. But they can vote no in a secret vote and not lose face. Employers should not lose the right to ask for a secret vote!

From Selma, Kansas City, KS

About 10 years ago, I worked for a unionized telecommunications company. At 18 years of age, I made $20+ per hour; had 100% employer paid health care: no deductible for office visits or prescriptions; had a very generous vacation schedule: somewhere around 3+ weeks per year (in my first year alone); there very number of employees who were absent for years due to “mental exhaustion,” with 95% pay. (and yes, I said years.) And did I mention that I was a telemarketer. My entire job duties were to call and try to convince people to switch their local or long distance carriers to my “great” company.

Though this arrangement was great for an 18 year old, even at that time (without any economics training) I could not understand how this company can stay in business. All of the numbers just did not add up. I wondered how long this company will last before they run out of money. I brought this question up during one of my college classes, and after listening to many debates, I came to an amazing conclusion that Unions and their “die hard” members just don’t care what happens to our economy; what happens to their employer; what happens to anyone or any business; they truly don’t care if they kill off their employer. It is almost like they are parasites. They just want to feed of off somebody else’s “flesh,” and it doesn’t matter to them if their host dies, they will just hop-on the next victim. Because after all, it is all about “I want more; I want more; Give me more, and I don’t care if you die,” attitude.

Now, I really don’t know way this is. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that most unionized workers don’t hold a higher education degree, and can’t understand that money doesn’t grow on trees; but then again, our current president has a very good education, and he supports unions; maybe they all are just very greedy. I don’t know what causes people to think that unions are productive or have purpose. But, what I do know is that if they (Unions) had to make payroll, put-up with: bureaucracy, with laziness, ungratefulness, endless complaints and threats of this or that lawsuit; watch their company wither away…they would think differently about all of the “greatness” of unions.

Just few final points (facts): my previous employer (the one I am referencing) shot down that location about 6-7 years ago. Three years after that they ended up being bought up by some other company and are no longer in business. (If they weren’t bought, they were going to go bankrupt.) And last, if our current president ever ran anything in his life, I am pretty sure that he would understand how businesses work. (You know that important thing called profit.)

P.S. Americans don’t need more or better education, they need something that you just can’t teach: common sense and appreciation for how good they have it in this country. (Also, I have never owned a business, I just appreciate what I have, and work hard to achieve more.)

From Frank, San Francisco, CA

In the past, tens of years ago, Union did help to protect the right of employee. Now it is different. Union is the drag of the economy. I remembered I read an article about Ford. It costs Ford $70/h for hire an hourly union worker at assembly line. I do not know exactly how much experience is needed to work at assembly line, but I doubt that it requires experience worth $70/h. This is one of the reason why those three auto makers fails. Nowadays most of union members, especially those new or younger employees, do not like to be a member of union because they would like more returns for their hard work. But in union, it is impossible. You get the exact pay increase as other members at the same job level. When there is layoff, those with less years in the union will be laid off first, instead of those not working hard. This is not fair even to union members and it breeds laziness.

From Shirley

Before you argue that I am a “non-union people”, please complete your research on the industries that delivers “unionism”. Unions were needed in 1800s because our economic system was not developed; we also do not have government agency enforcing safety concerns. There were none to minimum labor laws that protect employee(s). However, this is year 2009. All companies are required to maintain a standard of safety level. The market determines the “reasonable” wages for the labors. Technological changes forces everyone to improve and increase our efficiency.
Sure, some union members argue that “changes” eliminate their job(s). But hey! You continue improving skills set to contribute, or … if you think you can no longer “change”, maybe it is time for you to retire. Unionism fosters laziness to provide job security. Their existence increases the tension between management and team members that cherish conflicts.
I have worked with unionized companies. The teams I lead have a lot of hard-working members; however, as every team, I have one or two that are not quite “productive”. The one or two decrease everyone’s spirit; they have to say “grievance” as often as every 30 minutes (whenever you confront them to return to their position when they are caught in “socializing”.) Good workers have management on their side because everyone value good contributors.
I love my team, but when my “unionized” hard-working team member(s) asked me, “why I am pay the union $40 every month while I don’t need them. “, I am out of word.

From Chuck, Waco, Texas

All you union people are either thugs or wimpy followers. I was forced to be in a union in my first job after my military service. After 10 years, I, as a trained technician was paid the same wages as a meter reader thanks to the union. I left that company and due to my own initiative, started my own company and made enough to retire and enjoy life. The union was holding me back just it does all you wimps. The only people rewarded are your higher ups in the union and your organizer thugs. You are not man enough to stand on your own two feet, you must depend on a coercive union to fend for you.

From JB Crystal Lake Il

This is exactly the wrong way to go!! We should be trying to get rid of unions in all places not haveing the Fed mandate them in companies. This should be a free country with elections being private matter for the person voting. Any one who thinks the union thugs are not going to intimidate the voting employees is just stupid. This is just more Marxist garbage from our Marixest President and his lacky Democrates in Washington. Enough is enough. Lets have a recall of the President and really fix the problem!!

From Mark, Detroit MI

If a secret ballot is OK to elect the president surly it's OK to elect a union.
Of course, if there was a choice, in all states, to be in or out of the union it would be OK. Then whoever did not want to be part of the union could still be employed. Funny how that doesn't work in "union" states.

From marc, Los Angeles CA

The U.S. union model is a total failure and needs to die. Unions only do 2 things: force increased compensation regardless of competitiveness and labor value, and stonewall every attempt to cut coporate waste.

Are unions beneficial to employee members? For an answer, let's take a look at union heavy employment areas: airlines, autos and state government. Both have been choked to impending failure by the unions. California teeters on the verge of bankruptcy, and so do the airlines and the big 3 automakers. All three will fail in the end. And all the things the unions were supposed to ensure for present and retired workers – pensions, healthcare, wages – will be completely wiped out.

Unions have been as much of monumental failure as wall street. Both need to go the way of the dodo bird. Perhaps we can hope for the emergence of a new union model, one built on collaboration, efficiency, high work standards, merit pay, and yes, strong wages.

From frank johnson birmingham, al

Go ahead – drive more business out of the country and blame it on the Republicans. They never learn except for hindsight.

From Lewis S. Warren, MI

There are other things here no one is thinking about. If a company does not want a union in its business they simply have to treat their employees fairly and honorably. No one wants to pay someone to have a job via dues. OSHA is in place so that any employee can call if they are concerned with safety issues and it will be handled and the company fined, no union need here. NLRB has issued a statement that if there is no bargaining unit in the facility, and an employee is to be repremanded, he/she can ask 2 fellow employees of their choice to sit in during disciplinary action to keep it fair and balanced. I have worked in both and also been a supervisor and a union committeeman. The non-union shop treated the employees more fairly then the union did. Employees were paid based on how they performed and given an evaluation every year. They could make anywhere from .25 to 1.00 an hour more based on attendance and job performance. Union contracts usually give .10 to .30 cents based on COLA and what was negotiated. The employees at the nonunion plant, explored a unionization and voted it down during a meeting at the perspective unions local, not in the plant. Why do you need a bill like the EFCA to force them to unionize if they have a fair system now? The UAW is mad they are losing base and being beaten by right-to-work states. Living in Detroit, I can see where the unions have chased many good paying jobs south of the border where union dipping in the daily operations of a plant has driven them near bankruptcy. We need to get the unions out of the schools and let the teachers be paid on the average grade for the overall district. Merit pay is the best way to weed out the bad apples, there are teachers who are in it for the summers off, not the kids. If you want to teach, do so, if you do not, get out!

From Ian from New Jersey

A united working class outnumbers the top 1% by 100 fold.
If democracy is rule by the majority, then the majority should make themselves heard.
There are employers who are terrific, those who take pay cuts before laying off workers. Then there are the others…
As we become a global workforce, we will have to share what we have in common with workers across the world.
This is another area for a chance for American workers to LEAD!

Why is it workers in Europe can bring hundreds of thousands out to the streets, yet in the U.S. with our economy (and health care, and ecology) in the shape it's in, we American workers cannot do the same.

Sadly we forget history very easily, and we repeat it.

90% of SMB owners I know, have more in common with the working people of America, than they do with the top 1%.

A SMB who runs his/her business with the philosophy of 'do unto others…', will always thrive, no matter what the climate, and has nothing to fear from 'Unions'.

Perhaps it's even time for a 'Union' of SMB owners, saving the mom & pop shops on Main St. benefits all Americans.

From Roger St. Paris, OH

Only 7.5% of the American workforce is unionized but are getting blamed for the economic downfall? Every major company and corporation has a CEO, president and/or other high exec's running the business and making the decisions. Needless to say, it was them, not the 7.5% Union people that has caused this downfall.

I worked 14yrs. for a non-union shop, across town there was a Union shop that made the same product. Whenever they got a raise, we got a raise and our benefits were just as good as theirs. Unfortunity, they were bought out by another company and they closed that plant down. That pretty much ended our raises and our great insurance went down the tubes. I quit and was hired by my current company and am a Union employee.

Unions may not be for everybody but they are good for this nation.

If you scroll down to John in Las Vegas, his post is the best of all of them. If management would work with the Unions,instead of against them, then the Unions could work with the company, in good faith.

Finally, NAFTA and other unfair trade agreements need to be addressed. Too many jobs, union and non-union, are leaving and not coming back.

From J. Howard Palatka, Fl

.Just as we have secret ballots to elect our public elected official for public office we should have secret ballots to determine if we as employees should have representatives to represent us to our employers. We as employees should have a right to determine by secret ballot if we want to have a union represent us to our employers.
What isn't said in these discussions as to whether employees need a union to represent them is that if a union is voted in to represent a company's emloyees that there are issues where the mployees can no longer represent themselves to their employer.

From Kem Cho. Longview, WA

I am not against unions. As per my vote, I do not think it is anybody's business to how I vote or I vote for. It is my fundamental right to keep it private. These are the same people, who criticized President Bush for interfering to take away their individual rights.

From Mark, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Simply awful. Say good bye to your jobs. With the current labor laws, unions are just another bureacratic cost. See GM, etc.

From Ron Lincoln, NE

I've been a union worker my entire career with the railroad. I believe in unions however in this case if I didn't belong I would have no job. It doesn't matter if the union is doing a job for it's members or not, you still have to pay dues. Our union has become nothing more than one more enity to take a part of our paycheck. We get sold out to the company with each new contract. We have no say about our CEO's. They elect themselves. I think when it comes to having to get screwed from company and union we should have a choice of belonging or not. WE DON'T. Without the choice of belonging or not Unions don't have any reason to do what they are paid to do. Instead they rip us off.

From Josh, Pasadena, MD

It is a tough issue. You a company and its employees both trying to survive a recession. I think generally unions have a good notion in mind but when its put into practice things go awry. The job security that comes with being in a union is much to great and I think it breeds laziness. My wife is a teacher and a damn good one by all accounts. But at the same time in the same school in the same unions there are people who work half as hard and care less but they still get the same raise as my wife. My wife spends more of her own time and money to make sure her kids get a good education not just the required one. In an un-unionized outfit my wife would receive more and those who do not care would receive less or nothing at all or possible even be fired. I mean to be fired as a teacher in a union you either have to have inappropriate contact with you kids or not show up. Construction unions, you have one or two guys doing the work while other people stand around and do nothing. Postal Unions, have you ever seen how apathetic and not helpful people who work at the post office are? UAW who get people with high school diplomas jobs paying more than some people with 4 or 2 year degrees. But on the flip side there are companies who pay their workers dirt and work them extremely hard.

Like with all issues there has to be some middle ground that we can work towards that make both sides happy. We have lost the ability in this country to negotiate with one another.

From Jakobe Illich, Flagstaff AZ

EFCA is incredibly important. It has nothing to do with removing the secret ballot, and has everything to do with removing employer intimidation during union campaigns. It simply gives the employees rather than the employers the choice of having an election. The employees can still choose to have all the secret ballot elections they want. I just spoke with a guy yesterday who tried to unionize his workplace in South Carolina. He had 80% of his coworkers sign cards who wanted a union. With EFCA they would have a union and he would still have a job. Instead, the employer scared the hell out of everyone while waiting on the election, and they lost. Then they fired everyone who voted for the union. EFCA is pro worker no questions about it. Please stop framing it otherwise.

From Nathan, Anniston, AL

Unions were a great thing when it started but have lived long past their time. I remember what happened to DP, Diverified Products, a company in my home town of Opelika, AL, when they became unionized. It caused the company to go bankrupt and caused a30% of my cities population to be unemployeed after only a year of becoming unionized. I currently work @ Deltacom, a telecommunications company, that is un-unionized. I love it here. I am treated well and receive, what I feel, is fair pay. I haven't been here long but have received raises for my "excellent effort", per my management. I would make more if I worked at ATT, but I also know, from working with ATT, that the union would destroy Deltacom. Alot of the techs that I have worked with at ATT know very little about networking and/or how to do their jobs, yet they are paid more and receive better benifits. Unions need to die to save the economy.

From George Bower Pgh., PA

If you union lovers honestly believe that this is the answer–I suggest you take a long-hard-look at the state of the american steel industry. Being a native Pittsburgher–I've witnessed the death of an entire industry and the total devastation that unions brought to this town. Get a grip–and maybe an education–then you may not need a union to do your negotiating!

From Dan Orfield, Houston, Texas

It is disconcerting that CNN has not sought to publish the reasons the Unions are seeking this legislation, in particular, how employers have developed increasingly sophisticated ways to intimidate employees who wish to join a union during the election process. You may be business publication, but reporting impartiality should have you led you to include to unions' point of view.

From Theo, Modesto, Ca.

Unions are dinosaurs because they insist on antiquated work rules that creates work where there is none, forcing companies to have two and three people do the work that one person is trained, qualified and performs each day safely and efficiently. They are anti-company, instill the attitude in their members that the company is out to get them, and then constantly defend lazy workers while good people sit at home waiting for a chance.
Their days are long past. There are too many good people doing good work out there that don't want this type of interference.

From David Dewar, Raleigh, NC

The card check law will be one of the worst things to ever happen to business in this country. The unions have not been able to recruit new members so they recruited Democrat members of Congress by buying their vote with campaign contributions – now they want their payback. It is easy to see how much unions have helped the auto industry, the airline industry, the steel industry…The secret ballot should be retained. The open ballot just allows unions to intimidate workers into joining the union against their wishes.

From GSGoold, Kansas City, MO

The article fails to mention that the sign-up cards do not need to be signed on the spot, and ethical union organizers will point this out. This is still a secret ballot, the person who is holding the card can elect to sign it at a place of their choosing and mail it back. What this bill does is to eliminate the un-ethical tactics by corporate "consultants" to persuade potential union members that joining a union would be detrimental to their continued employment at that facility. Threating tactics such as forced shift or job re-assignment, loss of benefits, loss of full-time status, time off without pay, disiplinary actions including termination are all tactics that have been and are currently employed by these consultants. I know that there are laws currently on the books that should prevent this, however they have not been enforced under the Bush administration. For all the anti-unionists out there that work in the factories that are left here in the USA, how are your working conditions and safety records at your plants??? One of the primary improvements of having a union is increased safety and working conditions, increased wages and benefits are secondary. We would rather have safe long-term workers that are not fearful of losing their ability to earn a living or their life on the job. Safety is JOB ONE! I have been a unionist, a non-union right-to-work (for less) worker, a member of management, and currently I own a small business and am a union member. My choice by far is to be represented by a strong union backed by fair labor laws administered by a fair grievience process. Unions made this country strong. The politicians sold our manufacturing overseas in the form of political aid to gain favors. Say Union Yes!

From Anonymous

I believe, for the first time in my life, that the ACLU needs to step up to the plate and scream "FOUL!!!". If the unions are that frightned of losing existing membership, let alone not being able to obtain new ones but by the old ways of intimidation and the loss of the secret ballot, well….we will all be in trouble. The Unions were a wonderful antidote to poisionous business practices in the early and mid 20th century. They (the unions) have become the disease, not the cure. Too much power, too much corruption. It is not a good mix. Add a broken political system to the mix and soon the Unions will figure out a way to get 'bail-out' money. If the secret ballot is lost, you might as well figure the unions have received the first installment of their bailout money. If this doesn't work as well as union leaders desire, they'll be back with their polititians in their back pockets hungry for more.
If you would like a quick lesson in how an out of control union base can ruin an industry, explore the steel industry in of the 20th century in the United States. The nions went from heros to zeros in less than 100 years. I watched the Steel industry collapse in the mid "70's" in Steubenville, Ohio. The entire Ohio Valley was dependant upon steel sales. The unions had the employee wages so high that it could not compete with the Japanese and German steel products that major users of steel, the auto industry for example, were buying. American industries were forced to buy 'foreign' to be able to manufacture an affordable product that would compete on and with the world markets. Sound familiar? We're in the same pinch now, just 34 years later. I do not like to sound pessimistic. This level of greed and corruption cannot be changed. The upper levels of the unions would rather you go out on strike, lose all that you have, in the name of principle and honor, bankrupt the entire industrial and transportation sectors of our country and then shift the blame to the polititians who were once in their back pockets as they fly off to their retirement homes on a tropical island far far away.
( a short post script- the Japanese and German steel industry came back 25 to 30 years after we the United States of America declared victory in the mid 1940s and declared a substantial victory of their own. Their steel ,with the help of our greedy unions,literally sank the United States Steel industry by selling their product to us, the USA. Wake up !!! History is about to repeat itself!!!)

From Hannah Miller

You non union people have sure missed the boat or don't understand how unions have HELPED this country grow. Unions=middle class. Good paying jobs and security. Do you think the banking industry would have run amok the way it did if had unions watching out over them! NOT!!! I was always a manager, I oversaw dozens of people. But now, I look at the world and wonder how I could have been anti-union. These days, unions may be our only salvation!
Don't knock em till ya really looked at what they have down. Read the story of Triangle Shirtwaist Company. Conditions like that still exist world wide. Educate yourselves before you knock what you don't understand or swallow your employers garbage!

From Joe, Texas

Workers should be able to organize as they see fit. It workers at a particular company choose to organize and force the business to close its doors, then so be it. Who cares if the mom and pop business are successful? America needs more Wal-marts and Home Depots that pay low wages and little benefits. America has had it too good for too long.

From Jim McCarty, Slidell, LA

This is a bad law that only benefits union management. If employees really want a union, they should vote it in by secret ballot, not by coercion in an unregulated union meeting.

From Jake, Detroit MI

I don't understand why a secret balot is a bad idea…If the majority of people don't want to belong to a union, because they are affraid of intimidation and retribution from co-workers and organizers, and this is constantly documented by the results of these secret balots, then why…would…you…want…to get rid…of the…secret balots….oh I get it, so you can intimidate these people into joining.

I mean Unions are great after all, who wouldn't want to be gauranteed a job even when there is no need for them, and be paid more than their skills are worth?

From Mary Z, Cleveland, Ohio

How would EFCA be any different than what took place in Zimbabwe under Mugabe? Citizens were taken to the voting booth by gun point and if they could not prove they voted for Mugabe, they were shot. Please don't tell me that intimidation and fraud will not permeate this process. What are we thinking? Through the secret ballot, we have the ability to shut out the noise and vote our conscience. I find it hard to believe that our unions would go down this Marxist road. What is next?

From Meghan, Columbus, OH

How will businesses such as Home Depot and other discount stores be able to stay in business if they suddenly have to pay their workers so much higher of a wage? Doesn't that mean that their discount prices will have to go up? How will that grow our economy? Secret ballots are necessary and protect everyone – the worker and the business. Show me what the labor unions have done in the last 20 years to grow our economy.

From David Hazzard, Spokane WA

Strengthening laws to further unions isn't the answer but then again what is? I have worked for many years for companies that pay their managers to screw the worker out of his pay rather than try to be more efficient. While productivity is paramount, a kinder, gentler, business environment toward the guy who's doing all the sweating would be preferable too.

From Allie

Get ready to kiss more jobs goodbye. If they can't outsource you (construction, HVAC, transportation, etc.) you can benefit by joining a union. If you can be sent overseas (manufacturing, IT, accounting, etc.), you're only going to accelerate the outsourcing of your job by joining a union. Overpriced employees who enjoy outsized pay relative to their jobs, and fantastic benefits are the main reason manufacturing companies are leaving the United States now. Just goes to show we have a lot of idiots in this country. What other workers would approve of measures that will only get rid their jobs FASTER? I feel sorry for those who realize unionization will end their jobs. They'll likely be the soon-unemployed victims of their pro-union co-workers unfathomable idiocy.

From David, Dallas, TX

SCABS
Are all of you folks that nowadays?

I was in a shop that unionized, by secret ballot – but that was only after management lied, and tried every tactic known to man to make life miserable for the workers.
Wake up Workers, management and the BOSSES have lawyers and until now owned the Politicians (aka GOP).
Now the shoe is on the other foot, how does it feel?
One last thought, the workers don't design products that don't sell – management and marketing do that!
Wake UP!

From Robbie, Portsmouth NH

As a fiscally conservative owner of a small business all I can say is that it is time to reward those who supported the democrats. The bottom line is they are the winners and we are the losers and we WILL be punished by the democrats. It is called class warfare and they are masters at it.

From David, WY

Another point. I now live in Right to Work Wyoming and am not a member of a labor union. Before moving here, I was required to be a member of a union as part of my previous job. I had a reasonably high salary and the union I was forced to pay to represent me would argue to my employer that I should have a lower salary than my employer wanted to pay me (merit raise) so that someone with a lower salary than me could get a raise. Maybe I'm just a selfish libertarian, but that just seemed wrong to me. I took a pay cut in moving to Wyoming, but also an even bigger cost of living cut…

We've lost sight of why we're paid- because of what we produce at what price, not because of an idealized standard of living that is owed to us regardless of education, skill, or productivity. Unions, no thanks….

From Stefan, Baltimore MD

I just want to reiterate the opinion which apparently many other readers share: the new law is ridiculous for trying to remove the secret ballot. While workers rights do need to be protected, it seems to me that unions focus on protecting the undeserving employees more. I think that, at the moment, state and federal laws are better at protecting employees' rights than unions are.

From Jeremy Russell

While I would say that Unions did some good things 70 years ago, and those things needed to be done, I only have two questions. Why are only 7.5% of workers unionized if this is such a great thing? And if it is such a great thing, why do they need this extra help to get cards signed and that's it, with no election? What do THEY fear??

From John, Las Vegas NV

The secret ballot in union voting has simply become a way for employers to intimidate employees into voting against a union. Anyone who starts a union card drive can be assured that they have moved themselves to the top of the layoff list.

Companies can always find a legal way to retaliate against an employee, especially in an age of radical "employment-at-will". The time between a union card drive and a secret ballot gives the company an opportunity to organize a union busting drive. The companies get rid of the employee organizers, then intimidate the remaining employees in "required" union training sessions.

Companies have also shown that they are more than willing to engage in less than licit ways of intimidating employees that they view as "instigators" of union activity. An individual employee has little recourse against a large corporation with deep pockets and a large staff of lawyers.

Unions, if done properly, can help a company by acting as a check on management, especially in public corporations. Executives are far less willing to award themselves ludicrous bonuses if there's a union looking over their shoulder.

I completely agree that some unions, like the UAW, have gone out of control, especially with the "job banks". However, there has to be a check on management, especially when the stockholders have no real vote in the company.

I think allowing a majority of employees to organize by petition, which is what is a "card check" is a good short term solution. In the long run, the whole way we organize public corporations has to be reformed.

Boards need to be nominated and elected by the stockholders. Boards need to be able to show, without any doubt, their independence of management. Stockholders need to be able to vote on executive compensation.

Unions needs to be cognizant of their place in a global market. There need to be very serious penalties for a union if they intimidate employees into signing union cards.

In an ideal world, unions should be partnering with management and the board to make their company the best and most profitable.

From Alex, Boston MA

Unions brought Big Three down, unions are in the process of bringing MA down. What's next? Will they bring the whole country down?
They just might this time.

From PC, Midland MI

I find it hard to believe that this type of thinking can happen in America. Home of the free?

From Mike, Durham NH

This kind of tactic is a prime example of why lobbyists need to be eliminated in this country. As a non-union employee I’ve been on several job sites from Maine to Arizona doing network installations, and can safely say every union prevailing site has been a colossal waste of time. Just look at the Big Dig in Boston MA, or Seabrook Nuclear Plant in NH….. tens of years past projected completion dates and billions of dollars over budget thanks to unions. Now once again the billions of dollars in handouts to the auto industries so people can sit around and do nothing….

From Matt, Milwaukee Wisconsin

Just another payback for the Dems to the labor unions in an effor to boost union membership. The net result will be more loss of jobs – regardless of the tripe that labor unions give about quality of work force, the reality is that unions greatly inflate costs and reduce productivity for a company. Look at the big 3 – there is no way they are competing on price and quality with non union car companies. If union workers think they can produce such a great product cost effectively and treat workers so great, why dont they start their own companies? Union Motors, Union foods, etc.

From Ron, Startford, CT

A secret ballot is a precious commodity. As citizens, we count on the secret ballot in all phases of our "self-governing". Workers should be scared. This legislation does not help anyone except the Union bosses (has anybody mentioned a salary cap for them?).

From Roger, St. Paris, OH

I believe that a lot of people are missing something. The big three were striving at the height of Union membership, it's when the big three started spending billions just to try and destroy the Unions, did they start having financial problems. Then they started putting the blame on the Unions and the American people believes them. It is the greedy CEO's and other upper management making millions a year that are running the American companies in the ground. Those high exec's should be losing their jobs, but instead they will evenually get raises. I know of several companies that treat their employees like trash, and pay them low wages and believe me, if there were no Unions and no threat of people unionizing, more companies would treat their employees like trash.

From Mike, Flint Michigan

This is a way for democrats to appease the unions. The unions are taking a hammering right now, and they need more membership so they don't die.
We don't need them, they hurt us. They pit management against workers and create a hostile work environment. Unions promote apathy, distrust, and corruption. I have an idea: send the unions to China where they can raise wages, fight mine deaths, and deal with a socialistic government that works like they do. What do we need unions to protect workers for anyway? Small businesses will get sued silly if a worker is crossed or hurt on the job.
Three words: RIGHT TO WORK. Let the employee decide if he wants to join or not.

From Bob Hare Orlando, Fl

What a Mistake that would be.Muzzle the ox that feeds you??

From Dustin, Huntersville, NC

I got held out of a job due to a union. The job was given to a union member and I was a simple temp. When I finally got a GREAT position at the same company a year later, the union approached and attempted to PUSH me into membership. I did NOT! They kept me from a higher rate of pay for over a year when I needed it and when the company was willing to hire me. The kicker… The employee they helped. Quit!

From Kirk, Los Angeles, CA

Pure, unadulterated, jack-booted union thuggery, plain-and-simple.

From Joe, Mayberry,IN

Isn't the elections for our policical leaders based on a private ballot?

From Dave Monte, Dublin, Ohio

The key question for all of us is, where is the value in the law? This proposed law does nothing for employees, nothing for business, nothing for the economy and nothing to retain jobs in the U.S. The only value is putting money in the pockets of unions and as a result votes in the pockets of politicians who support it.

From Dean Honolulu HI

The unions tried to org our employees, they were not unhappy and the secret vote allowed them to say NO. We did lose some employees to a union company we compete against, they were back beging for there job stating the union just protects less skilled workers and stiffled there chance to grow with the company forcing them to make up for he less skilled workes that could not be fired because of the union

From Burt Palmer, Chalfont, PA

When will Congress stop listening to a small minority with lots of money. All they need to do is look at the Airline, Automobile and major manufactoring companies to see what unions did to their cost structors and ultimate downfalls in business (with the loss of all thiose jobs). At a minimun at least keep the secret ballot. Workers today want to keep what jobs they have, not lose them on union dreams of pay that will not happen.

From Chris Barnhart

Secret Ballots are what defines a real democracy. Getting rid of that requirement makes any vote or card check a sham.

From l. williams lugoff sc

bad idea. card check will eliminate jobs and opportunity in this country.

From a spaulding port orange fl

Having seen how a no secret vote caucus process was used to choose our new messiah -The vote was held only when the king's shouters were present and all opposition was silenced-(Maine 2008) the country should be very afraid of Commrad Porkulosi-Next UP – Immigration reform so the commies will have the majority for ever!

From Peter, Simpsonville, SC

Democratic Party does not seem very democratic anymore. What if votes on election day were no longer a secret? What if you could bully people at the polls to vote one particular way? Maybe that is what the Democratic Party wants now. Or does the almighty dollar come before the country that prints it?

From Fred Poynor, Panama City, Florida

Like most of the crap put out by unions, this is bull crap! It allows nothing but intimidation tactics that were outlawed years ago. Our politicians need to get out of satisfying this special interest group who can not survive on their own! This is anti-stimulus!!!!!!!

From Peter Chen, New York City

I have always voted left, but I don't agree with this proposed law. If workers really wanted a union, the workplace can turn union even if the ballet is secret.

From Bill DeVore, Wickliffe, OH

I have always had a saying, "Workers don't make unions, management does." If workers are paid well, and treated fairly, they will have no desire to form a union. The reason is that workers just want to do their jobs and go home to live their lives.
But if they are not paid a living wage; are treated like property, not people; are constantly abused, harassed, and threatened; have their jobs constantly in jeopardy, they will look for recourse. That recourse is to organize into unions.
I find it ludicrous that everyone seems to assume that it is the "Big Bad Unions" that are going to intimidate the workers, when in fact it has historically been the employers that have been on the front lines of intimidation. Whereas companies have hired thugs to break strikes, have pressured the government to send in troops to break strikes, in which the workers have been injured and even killed, (See Ford, Henry, & Rockefeller, John D.)
The right of workers to organize for mutual benefit is something that was won only through a long bitter struggle.
Since 1980, administrations have largely failed to enforce workers rights to organize, by looking the other way or stating that it should fall under state jurisdiction. This is the same thing that was said about the civil rights movement.
That union membership is down is not because workers do not want to be organized, but because companies have illegally threatened and intimidated workers, making them too afraid to organize. Most of the loss of union membership stems from the fact that greedy corporations have closed factories and moved jobs to other countries where there are no environmental laws, worker rights, OR child labor laws, such as China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, where corrupt politicians provide factories, and virtual slave labor to these corporations. Instead of attempting to restrict our workers from organizing for their own protection, we should be outraged about the working conditions in theses countries where workers are exploited and human life has no meaning.
The laws we have in this country regulating workers rights would not exist without the efforts of organized labor. Without organized labor ensuring that workers received a "Fair days pay for a fair days work" there never would have been a middle class in this country. That the middle class is shrinking in concert with the shrinking of the percentage of unionized workers is not just a coincidence.
That the huge multinational corporations have put out reams of propaganda to try and stop the Employee Free Choice Act is not surprising to anyone who has taken the time to actually look at the history of the labor movement. Historically companies will do anything to stop workers from uniting for their common good. This is no different.
Reasonable people should research the history of management labor relations, and decide for themselves on which side they wish to come down. On the side of the corporations that would have us be a 2 class society, or on the side of the workers who make up the bulk of our population where everyone has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

From David, WY

Why don't we find the policies that have failed in some states and force them on all of America? That seems like a good idea. Michigan can't compete with the rest of America, so let's force all of America to be like Michigan. Soon, we'll have to invade Singapore to unionize them and raise their labor costs while decreasing their productivity so that we don't get outcompeted by them too.

From R Davis, Beltsville, MD

This bill STINKS!!!!! It is just another ploy to take our rights to a SECRET ballot away. The person(s) that sponsered it should move to someplace else and leave America to Americans.

From Bob Diekmann, Chesapeake, VA

More unions will cripple our economy even further. See what unions did to GM and Chrysler. Don’t we learn anything from history?

From Chris, Cincinnati

terrible idea. What is wrong with a private ballot where an individual can be alone with their thoughts to decide whether or not to join a union.

Why are we forcing people to be badgered, coerced, pressured and manipulated into signing up for something they don't want.

Might as well just change the name of the country to the People's Republic of America with Vladimir Obama at the helm

From Ken, Dallas, TX

The systematic devaluation of labor is the true root cause of the economic crisis. Banks didn't start lending to high-risk borrowers because they wanted to throw money away, they went subprime because real incomes were in decline and the pool of really creditworthy borrowers has been shrinking for decades.

Renewal of economic demand depends on getting money into the hands of people who will invest it in their lives. This can be accomplished only by raising wages, because the people who would benefit from tax cuts already have plenty of money to live well.

I have serious concerns about protection of the integrity of votes, so I view this bill as flawed, but it is vital that we move away from the status quo. In this instance, an imperfect bill is still an improvement over the creeping impoverishment of the status quo.

From Michael, Waltham, MA

This is what you get America for voting for Obama. This is pay back time for Union support during election. Hate to say, but many more policies and sick ideas will become law during democratic rule.

From Edward, New York, City

I own a small business and we are considered a "mom and pop" operation. we actually gross over 500k per year from retail income because if we grossed less we would be out of business (i.e. we are in New York City). We only have 5 employees and if we had to deal with union garbage we wouldnt be able to survive. Unions were important in the early stages to get worker rights. now that they have been established they have come to destroy the work ethic and any employer/employee relationship. Union members often times do the minimum because if they do they cant be fired. Unions, in my opinion, are the result of many bankruptcy or industrial problem (i.e. airlines and car companies). What happened to free market employment?

From GK, Rockville MD

See what unions did to GM and Chrysler. Don't we learn anything from history?

From Larry, Windsor CO

More unions is a bad idea!! Just look at the big three.

From Union Loser, Detroit

Unions are for socialist thugs, losers, mediocres who can not sustain themselves on their own.

I suggest inviting all union members and sympathizer to move to Venezuela, Cuba or North Korea where their beliefs are more widely shared.

From Lola, Arlington, VA

Secret ballots protect individuals. Card check is an intimidation tool any way you look at it. I would not participate in any vote that was not secret.

From Mat

Unions were needed long ago when employees where at risk. Employers today do everything they can to make sure employees are safe and unions are not needed to do that. Take a look at what is going on in the auto industry and blame the unions for 90% of what is happening there.

From Roy H., Greenville, NC

I do not understand why the secret ballot, upon which our country was founded, has suddenly become something of evil.

From Andrew East Lansing MI

In my experience unions protect crappy workers more so than those that deserve the protection.

From steve

We already have "employee free choice". If you don't like your job, wages or benefits, you have the choice to go get ANOTHER JOB! Look at France! You want that disaster?

From Leland Vacaville, CA

There are several detrimental affects that would arise from this bill. But they arise out of a departure from the fundamental principle of 'one person-one vote, cast without intimidation. The representatives who would vote for this apparently don't like the very process that put them in office to cast the vote.

From Sybil, Santa Rosa, CA

Secret ballots are essential for the free and fair workings or any vote. For any reason.

For those who favor it because of wanting unions to be stronger, remember everything works both ways. Peer pressure and intimidation by vested interests can keep people from voting "yes" when they want to, as well as "no".

Don't be stupid, lazy or greedy here.

Secret ballots are an essential ingredient to any ANY free and fair election.

From Anonymous

I think the employee free choice act would be a great thing if passed.Unions
are great they protect workers and their benefits.

From Joe, Tallahassee, FL

Hey Buddy. How does removing the secret ballot protect me from my employer? While your story may be true, your logic holds NO water. If your story is really true, you should be for the secret ballot. That way these "terrible" "intimidating" employers can never know whether you voted for the union or not. Give it a rest…

From Joe, Tallahassee, FL

It is just crazy. I was listening on the radio this morning to the Florida Union rep. There is not one single good reason why a secret ballot is NOT the proper way to do this. He was trying to show all the ways the employers forced the workers to vote against the union. What a moron. If the ballot is secret, that is the ONLY protection the employee has from the union OR the employer. This has got to be the worst idea in the history of the world. It will cripple small businesses at a time when they need the most help.

From Marty, Naperville, IL

It's undemocratic and allows unions to use intimidation as one of their organizing tactics. If enacted, it will cost the economy jobs – if you doubt that, just look at the unemployment rates in our most heavily unionized states like Michigan and Ohio.

From USMC, lynwood Il.

This is worse than the poll taxes and other methods tried in the south to exclude people from voting. The right to a secret ballot is a fundamental of democracy – card check even sounds like something the KGB or gestapo would indulge in.

From Anonymous

It is because of unions that this country is where it is at today. you union people are the scum of the earth, I hope no one ever buys another one of your cars.

From Gris Sloane, Carlsbad, CA

Anyone who doesn't believe that at this point in America's history the labor unions simply preserve mediocrity are ignoring the obvious. The unions prevent excellent employees from moving ahead (and getting better compensation) and also prevent employers from 'stagnating' less competent employees. And anyone who thinks a guy whose sole job is to install wheel bolts should get $70K+ a year and full benefits, while degreed entry-level engineers get $40K, is crazy.

The bill *should* be about disbanding the labor unions. GM, Ford, and Chrysler are strangled by their labor union contracts; and the American taxpayer just bailed those companies out to the direct benefit of the union labor that put them there in the first place.

From Mike Durban, Charlotte, NC

"Organize the workers in America and that will start the downfall of capitalism". This is attributed to Joesph Stalin. It has worked! Today's auto company failure is a by-product of this activity.

Secret ballots should stay to provide a person the right to vote without retribution. Are we to allow Jim Crow laws for the unions, are political elections next?

From Bill, Wheeling, WV

The true nature of this bill is that union membership has steadily decreased over the past 3 decades. In turn, this bill is trying to put a band aid on the sucking chest wound of union membership. Gone will be the choice for employees to place a secret ballot vote, free of pressure. In place will be a system where union organizers can use high pressure and lies to gain membership. In a free market system, if unions cannot gain members through the fair channels available, then their membership should decrease.

From Anonymous

this country has enough to worry about

people do not need there tires flattened or house windows shot out because of some bastard union thug wants you to sign up for there f–n union.

From ilene D, cocoa fl

If passed, I believe the card check legislation will become the "job elimination act of 2009". Think "pension PROTECTION Act". I told clients when I read about it that it would become the "Pension ELIMINATION Act". Check the stats.

A company can only charge for a product or service what the market will bear. If a business has to pay higher wages, it has to charge higher prices. Customers at the margins are lost. Total Revenues decline. MY PREDICTION. Companies will respond as they have since Obama and democrats won primary elections in September. By eliminating as many "employees" as they can. Interestingly, according to what I've heard, many of those former employees actually are still working for the company, but they had to form businesses that the company hires not by the hour, but for a job for a fixed price contract. Companies are now starting to close down any money losing division (want to bet they will offer the work being done to employees if they form their own company?). They are outsourcing whole departments – instead of someone who does the books one day a week but is on payroll 40 hours – they hire a company to do the same work on a contract. Same with Marketing, purchasing, janitorial. Who needs employees when there are lots of small businesses that would love the work on a fixed contract. And for those current employees who really weren't very productive ….. want to bet their income will soon match their actual output.

From Domenic argento, eden, NY

I believe that a democratic process must demand a secret ballot and I would oppose any elimination of a secret ballot just like i would oppose the elimination of a secret ballot for elections of any type.

From mike, Omaha, NE

The card check law is simple. Quid pro quo for the politicians that suckle at union's money teats. Small and even mid sized businesses are not collectively organized with one cohesive goal in mind. That's where the single minded purpose and deep pockets of the unions have the advantage. Why don't we call them what they really are? How about the "Worker's Party" (aka I want all the benefits of your idea but none of the risk of ownership)? They were worthwhile once, shining the light into the dark corners of our formerly oppressive industrial manufacturing. In today's world, I don't see their merit in the US. To be meritworthy, they would have to include upper management and have a collective bargaining agreement that governed wages of everyone that worked in that specific company. Shareholders are supposed to have a vote, yet, frankly, when was the last time a compensation advisory board put one of their absurdly inflated compensation packages to a binding shareholder vote?

From ma

ANYONE who would vote to deny SECRET BALLOT privilege to ANYONE ELSE in this Republic is anti-American in philosophy and deed! They will NEVER get my future vote and I WILL remember them.

From Phillip, Charlotte NC

I think it is time that we look at the airlines and the auto sector and realize that the unions play the biggest part of a company's downfall, what happen to if you don't like your job, your pay, or your benefits move on!!

From Roy Bragg

Hitler and Stalin always favored eliminating the secret ballot. Why don't we eliminate the secret ballot for presidential elections. God Help us..

From larry New York, NY

passing this will cut the neck of unions and employees by a massive backlash from employers. Didn't government learn it's lesson with GM bailout. Unions will never see growth in the future US economy just like GM will not see itself survive. There is a time and place for everything and the unions are dead.

From Mark Hudson, Indiana

This is a bad idea that allows for union pressure on employees to join a union or face direct attack for not going along. Unions have their place but so does the secret ballot that protects employees from union harassment. If this passes so should the right to work law. Pay all employees what the union contract says but let the employees decide if they want to belong to the union.

From Eric, Louisville, ky

I have an uncle in Cincinnati, OH that owns a large cabinet shop. He has worked hard his whole life and pays good wages to his employees. Several years ago some employees looked at unionizing. He responded, I am well off enough, you start a union here and I close the doors.

From Tim, Virginia Beach, VA

I believe the unions are coming back to the politicians they have supported looking for payback. Whats unfortunate is that the democrats are taking a shot at big business and hitting the front line worker. Secret ballot should never be legislated away!

From Neil Dial Huntington, WV

I think card check type of voting goes against the secret ballot system set up during the formation of our country which we still utilize for our general elections. Why change a system that works so well? I believe it would be a step backwards.

From Rick Glen Ellyn, IL

Unions? One just need to look at
the Steel and Auto industry. For
the answer!

From Buddy, Chesapeake,Virginia

I will preface my comment by saying I am a union memeber,CWA Local 2202.
Every time I read an article on the card check legistation there is always a mention of intimidation from the union. I beg to differ.I once tried to organize for union representation at a cable company and the threats and intimidation from the company was overwhelming. The union never once tried to force or scare anyone to vote for the union to come in, the company used spies,letters and one on one talks with supervisors and employess to scare the life out of any chance for the union to represent us at that company. I say to you, look at the people that are outraged by this card chech legislation. It is the companies that don't have union employees and know that if the employees had half a chance they would become union employess.These employers that are screaming about this thing realize that their day of treating their employees as if they own them may soon be over.They don't want their employees to have a right to the greavance process. Having worked in union and non-union shops I can tell you the difference is night and day and the non-union employers know that.I wish these employers would realize that the union workforce provides the best workers in the world and they deserve the respect as such.

From Scott, Pittsburgh PA

Removing the secret ballot will be a huge blow to all businesses. The laws are already slanted in favor of the unions, but removing the ability of those who don't want to join to voice their opposition without fear of retribution? This is nothing but a blatant payback for union votes.

From Anonymous

Let me get this straight.

We are going to pass a law that does a away with an election that gives both sides a way to decide an issue with out fear of retaliation? and this law is going to be passed by a body that was elected in a secret ballot

From Bob, Kingston NH

This is a bad idea. Unions are counterproductive and raise the cost of goods & services.

From Neal Newman, Oakton VA

The "Employee Free Choice Act." Great idea. Lets follow this bill with another called "The Voters Free Choice Act." The later would extend the brilliance of the former and outlaw secret ballots in federal and local elections. This would make it much easier to identify and "improve" the thinking of non-conformists, which is sure to please our Dear Leader.

From Tim Bachler

I work for a midsize company (2 billion sales)that has only one union plant and the rest are non union. We have a profit sharing program for the non-union employees that is very lucrative that all employees participate. We have a couple plants that we recently opened in China but the products produced overseas are not imported back into the U.S. They are there to serve the Chinese market. If this law passes, It is my belief that the companies that are unionized will simply choose to expedite the move of jobs overseas. The secret ballot also protects workers from intimidation. When you go and vote for president, would you like everyone in the room to know how you voted? This is another sign of the presidents payback for the the special interests that got him elected. This presidency is going to be a disaster for our country.

From KARL WESTRA KALAMAZOO MICHIGAN

great ideal-how come a ceo can millions and workers get nothing-look what it got us-great job wall street

From Phil Coffey, Salem, VA

Are you kidding? More union power in this economy. Apparently the U.S. is not interested in competing in a world economy because this would ensure that we aren't players.

From Chuck Smith, Walkertown, North Carolina

I think enticing employees through "free bears" or other incentives that are unrelated to improving their working conditions should be illegal and the Unions should be fined. A secret ballot is a reaction to the pressure that Unions use to "entice" employees and have almost crippled this country's workforce. Unions have decrease in popularity because they are old methods to address issues that have been regulated with policies forged by modern business thinkers.

From John

Since when don't we get a chance for a vote in this country?

From Fred, Farmington, Michigan

Look at industries with Unions, and you have businesses with declining labor force and wages.
So the Unions are whatLaborers/ workers need.? I do not think so.
Many industries in the Midwest / Great Lakes area have declined.
This bill would only spread the decline to the rest of the country.

From Randy, Winston-Salem, NC

Welfare for unions – demotwits paying back unions for years of (misplaced?) loyalty. The last thing this country needs is another impediment to business creation-expansion. If you think jobs went 'offshore' before, if this bill passes and is signed, the 'offshoring' of jobs will expand exponentially.

From D. Paul Florence, SC

Having worked in union environments both as a union member and in management rolls for 20 years I find it amazing that as the government wants to have bipartisanship all they are creating is another divide between labor and management. Have they not learned amything from the last 60 years that this antiquated system does not work in our current economic environment. There are much more important issues to be resolved at this time without creating another factor for businesses large or small to deal with.

From Walter, Elkhart, IN

I think this is wrong. To take away the chance for people to vote in a secret ballot protected from intimidation is not Democratic. History tells us we need some unions in to speak out for the down trodden. But some unions have run amuck. For example, I think using taxpayer money to bail out Detroit without concessions from the Unions is lunacy. Washington please stop wasting my tax money.

From Paul Raliegh NC

A horrible piece of legislation. Let's legalize union arm twisting, harrasment until they gain 51% signing a card and damage the other employees who want a chance to advance based on thier own hard work. A secret ballot is the only fair way to impose a union on a work group members who do not want to join.

From Jeff, in the USA

This is the worst idea that anyone could possibly have. What is next, open votes at elections for public offices. Where a group can pressure you to vote for their canidate. I would think that this should be shut down as soon as passed as it should be against the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. Not unless we are going to truely become a solialist state. The only thing this is designed to do is make more people beholding to the democratic socialist machine.

From Rick Olson, Saline, Michigan

If Congress passes the card check bill, it will be an exercise of sheer political power, against the best interests of the country, and proof that the Democrat Congressmen and Senators are honorable politicians – "once bought by the unions, they stay bought".

From Daryl Cobranchi, Fayetteville, NC

EFCA has already had a positive effect, and it's not even been passed yet. The largest hog processing plant in the country, after many years, finally allowed a legitimate unionization vote recently. The company had been found to be in violation of the law concerning union organizing. Management hemmed and hawed and delayed as long as possible. It was only after it became obvious that EFCA had a legitimate shot at passing this year did a vote finally happen.

Employees voted for the union.