Opposition to the anti-worker card check plan among editorial boards and opinion leaders is well documented. And it’s no surprise. After all, the card check legislation—deceptively dubbed the Employee Free Choice Act, despite the fact that it takes away employees’ free choice through a secret ballot—is fundamentally undemocratic, something the American people don’t take lightly.
However, it’s not just editorial writers and op-ed contributors weighing in against the plan to scrap the secret ballot. Individual citizens are lending their voices as well, arguing that Congress and special interest groups have no right to take away workers’ ability to choose freely, and privately, whether they wish to join a particular union. A sampling of letters to the editor shows just how strongly the American people oppose the card check plan.
From Alabama…
“The ‘Employee Free Choice Act’ before the U.S. Congress is an oxymoron. The unions want to do away with secret ballots in elections to form a union at a place of employment. …
“This proposed elimination of the secret ballot to organize a union is nothing more than an obvious payoff from the Democrats for union support in elections. I recommend people call or write their congressmen and senators to oppose this outrageous act.”
McDaniel, Letter to the Editor, “Bill mere payoff for union support,” Montgomery Advertiser, 03.04.09
To Ohio…
“Under Card Check, union organizers would be free to ‘persuade’ workers to publicly sign a card stating that they support the union. Union organizers could ask workers to sign a card just about anywhere - in the parking lot after work, at a restaurant, even at home. Once more than 50% sign cards, workers would be stuck with a union - no more debate and no secret ballot election.
“Because unions would know who has signed a card, workers would be exposed to unrelenting pressure and coercion. Exposing workers to this harassment may seem unfair, but the goal of this legislation isn't fairness - it's getting workers to sign cards and begin paying union dues. …
“We need our elected officials to protect democracy in our workplaces, not bow to the $450 million unions ‘invested’ in 2008.”
Bockrath, Letter to the Editor, “Elected officials need to protect the work force,” Putnam County Sentinel, 03.04.09
To Arkansas…
“Recently, there has been some talk about the Employee Free Choice Act, or card-check. Unlike its name indicates, this piece of legislation actually takes away an employee's right to a secret ballot when voting on a union's establishment. Votes are instead recorded publicly, which makes intimidation both inside and outside of the workplace much more likely.
“This legislation would take contract negotiations out of the hands of workers and employers by giving government arbitrators the power to negotiate and set employment contracts. …
“To keep true democracy intact in the workplace, our elected officials in Washington should oppose EFCA.”
Reed, Letter to the Editor, “`Free Choice’ Act isn’t,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 03.03.09
And Pennsylvania…
"Now imagine that you don't want to belong to a union for whatever reason, and you don't sign the card as the ‘organizers’ want. Next thing you know, there are 200 union activists outside your home practicing their constitutional right. Do you still think the Democrats in Congress should cave in to the union bosses and take away your right to a secret ballot?”
Mutch, Letter to the Editor, “Secret ballot protects against protests,” Morning Call, 03.02.09
…the American people have resoundingly rejected the card check plan to take away the secret ballot. The only ones who remain unconvinced seem to be some congressional Democrats and the special interest groups financing the scheme.
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