Secret Ballot Watch

Of all the arguments made by proponents of the so-called Employee Free Choice Act, one of the most dubious is the claim that secret ballot elections are rigged against union organizing.

After all, secret ballot elections protect the privacy of workers no matter how they plan to vote. If anything, secret ballot elections actually favor unionization in workplaces where workers may wish to form a union. They allow workers to cast a vote in favor without company officials or coworkers knowing their decision. And by the same token, when a worker would rather not join a particular union, a secret ballot is needed to guarantee their right to vote against organizing without facing public pressure or intimidation.

Such was the case in an election held last week in Texas, when two-thirds of workers at a Valero refinery rejected plans to join the United Steelworkers union:  

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“Workers voted 183 to 94 to reject affiliation with the Steelworkers, which represents 30,000 U.S. refinery workers. …

“A union leader said the results show the difficulty in organizing under current law.

“‘This is a prime example of how the laws are clearly in favor of the corporations when it comes to organizing,’ said USW Subdistrict Director Jim Lefton.

“The Steelworkers are in favor of a card-check proposal before the U.S. Congress that would allow workers to join a union when the majority of employees at a location sign cards indicating their desire to become members.”

Seba, “Valero Texas City refinery workers reject union,” Reuters, 08.09.09 

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A prime example of how laws favor corporations? Just because the union happened to lose? What about the two-thirds of secret ballot elections that unions win? Are those elections rigged as well?

We’ve said it time and time again. Secret ballot elections are the only way to protect workers’ right to vote freely, without intimidation, coercion, or the threat of retribution. No matter which way they plan to vote.

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