The Chamber

ISSUE:  Oppose initiatives to make union organizing easier, including proposals to abolish the secret ballot – also known as “Card Check” or “Employee Free Choice Act”
WHY IMPORTANT:  In a 2009 survey of our members, this issue ranked in the top ten - #5 in priority of importance.  (Will be updated after February 12th)
Under the existing law today, workers have a chance to vote for or against unionization in a private-ballot election that is federally supervised. Under “Card Check”, if more than 50% of workers at a facility sign a card, the government would have to certify the union, and a private ballot election would be prohibited--even if workers want one.   By forcing workers to sign a card in public--instead of vote in private--Card Check opens the door to intimidation and coercion. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, over 70% of voters agree that a private election is better than card check.
Another part of the EFCA is that once a union is certified, the business and union would only have 120 days to reach agreement, before facing the prospect of being forced into binding arbitration. This means a panel of government arbitrators who may have no understanding of the business could impose a two year contract deciding all workplace terms--without any vote by the company or its employees.  By placing government regulators in charge of a two-year decision, business flexibility is limited--at a time in our history when it is needed most. A recent poll, cited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, found that 75% of voters believe government arbitrators should not decide the conditions of a union contract.
Finally, Card Check would impose harsh new penalties on businesses--but not on unions--for violations during the union recognition process. This is unfair, and potentially disastrous for small or medium businesses, who are not familiar with unionizing campaigns or the National Labor Relations Act. If Card Check passes, many of these businesses would be facing unionization for the first time.
OUR POSITION:  We ask that you aggressively Oppose the Employee Free Choice Act and similar legislation.