Secret Ballot Watch

Although congressional support for card check legislation – the plan to replace federally-supervised secret ballot elections with a public sign-up process for forming a union – has been dwindling, the well-financed groups behind the plan remain undaunted.

According to Politico’s Ben Smith, “A labor coalition is launching, a spokesman says, a seven-figure ad buy aimed at putting the Employee Free Choice Act -- flagging amid Senate skepticism -- back into the spotlight.”

The Hill has more:  

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“A new ad from organized labor targets Wall Street in calling on Congress to move the controversial card-check bill.

“American Rights at Work (ARAW), a labor advocacy group affiliated with several unions, plans a nationwide buy for the ad to play on cable television across the country. It will begin during the two-week congressional recess now under way. …

“The new ad suggests the fierce battle over the labor bill is not ending despite setbacks for organized labor. Sens. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) in recent weeks have both said they will not support the bill, formally known as the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), unless it is changed. It is unlikely supporters can win the 60 votes necessary to move the bill through procedural hurdles in the Senate without their votes.”

Bogardus, “Labor targets Wall Street on ‘card-check’,” The Hill, 04.08.09 

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Union bosses have been explicit in calling for passage of card check legislation as “payback” for their financial and political support in the last election.

Late last year, Gerald W. McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, told editors and reporters at The Washington Times that, “unions paid their dues by supporting Democrats and President-elect Barack Obama in this year's election. He said they expect that effort to be rewarded with action. ‘The payback would be Employee Free Choice Act - that would be a vehicle to strengthen and build the American labor movement and the middle class.’”

Between the ongoing political pressure and a new seven-figure advertising blitz hitting the airwaves, it seems the fight to protect workers’ right to a secret ballot won’t be over anytime soon.

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