| Union-organizing bill has support of CT's Congress members
Would virtually eliminate secret-ballot elections
(Oct. 9, 2008) Labor unions are trying to change federal laws to make it easier to organize in workplaces. Trouble is, all of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation — including all five U.S. representatives who are up for re-election in November — are co-sponsors of the bill.
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Deceptively called the “Employee Free Choice Act,” the bill allows labor unions to form in a workplace simply by collecting signed petitions (or “cards”) indicating that a majority of employees favor organizing, and then designating a particular labor union to represent them.
Virtually gone from the workplace would be secret-ballot elections; employees would have to publicly decide whether to sign the card, in front of a fellow employee or labor union organizer.
The proposal also would force first-time collective bargaining negotiations into binding arbitration if an employer doesn’t agree on a contract with a newly recognized union within 120 days.
Listed as co-sponsors of this very dangerous legislation, also known as the “card check bill,” are Congress members John Larson (D-1), Joe Courtney (D-2), Rosa DeLauro (D-3), Christopher Shays (R-4) and Chris Murphy (D-5). Each is seeking re-election this fall. Also supporting the bill are U.S. Senators Chris Dodd (D) and Joe Lieberman (ID).
Stalled in the 110th Congress, the bill is very likely to be brought up again after the election. Many feel that voters will elect enough supporters of the card check bill that it could pass in the 111th Congress.
And that could put it on the desk of the new president in 2009. Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D) supports the bill; Sen. John McCain (R) opposes it.
“Most [businesses] are unaware of a planned hostile takeover of their human resources. And yet it’s right under their noses,” says Home Depot co-founder Bernard Marcus. This bill “would place millions of currently nonunion employees under restrictive union work rules.”
Connecticut businesses need to ask their Congressional representatives to address the issue and reconsider their support of this bill that would further damage our business climate and economy.
For more information about the card-check proposal, contact CBIA’s Kia Murrell at kia.murrell@cbia.com or 860-244-1931.
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