Secret Ballot Watch

Poll after poll shows their numbers are few as Americans have soundly rejected the act, and no wonder: It sets aside the secret ballot in favor of a public majority sign-up. It offers forced government contracts and could make America less competitive in the global economy – all during a lengthy recession.

How strongly are people against the act? Rasmussen Reports released a survey in July that found the following:    

“[A] new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of adults do not believe it is fair to form a union without a secret vote. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure. …

“Just 21% of all Americans believe the federal government should be allowed to mandate an agreement defining pay and benefits for a company’s employees if the company and their employees’ union cannot reach an agreement on a contract within 90 days. Fifty-six percent (56%) are opposed to giving the government this power which is another provision of the EFCA.”

“30% Say It’s Okay To Form A Union Without A Secret Vote, 52% Disagree,” Rasmussen Reports, 07.13.09 

Even in Pennsylvania – a state with 847,000 union members – the act has few friends. A June poll found that citizens of the Keystone State opposed the measure by a 55-29 percent margin. In fact, even state Democrats opposed it by a 44-37 percent margin, according to the poll of 700 registered voters by Susquehanna Polling and Research Inc.

One might assume that Pennsylvanians would like the act as much they like the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. But in reality, they – along with the rest of the country – do not. It’s just another reason why EFCA must fail.

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