Secret Ballot Watch

You know eliminating the secret ballot is a bad idea when even card check’s biggest backers start cooling off to the assault on worker’s rights.

Richard Trumka, the next president of the AFL-CIO, has indicated his union could live with a version of the Employee Free Choice Act that drops the heinous “card check” provision of the bill, which can leave workers open to intimidation.

The AFL-CIO has been a huge supporter of the act, and The Hill has the story here:   

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“The incoming president of the AFL-CIO signaled Wednesday his union could accept a card-check bill that preserves an employer’s right to demand a secret-ballot election.

“Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka hedged on whether a card-check bill must include the provision that gives it its name.

“As written, legislation in the House and Senate would allow workers to organize by signing cards and would eliminate an employer’s ability to require a secret-ballot election. Unions and business groups both argue this would make it much easier for workers to organize.

“Asked Wednesday if including the provision was a key for the union, Trumka said ‘it may or may not be.’”

Bogardus, “AFL-CIO suggests a hedge on card-check,” The Hill, 09.02.09 

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Although this appears to be welcome news, signs that the “card check” part of the act may be dropped have appeared before. Moreover, elimination of “card check” may not be good news at all if it means an alternative version of this bad bill could become law.

The Employee Free Choice Act has many other terrible aspects to it, including its ability to force government contracts on businesses for two years. Workers and employers won’t truly be able to rest easy until the entire act is stopped cold.

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