States Vote to Protect Secret Ballot

One of organized labor’s main priorities—the so-called “card-check” process in which secret ballots in workplace elections are eliminated—was defeated in the four states that took up the issue on Election Day.

Voters in Arizona, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah elected to protect the right to secret-ballot voting in union elections.

Card-check proposals vary in different states and change as political maneuvering takes place. But the crux of “card-check” is to boost union organizing by replacing secret-ballot voting with a simple accumulation of signed cards by employees, both in and out of the actual workplace.

Supporters of labor organizations in Congress have titled the proposal “the Employee Free Choice Act,” a clever misnomer.

Connecticut lawmakers should remember these state votes as legislators–and labor groups –prepare for the upcoming session of the General Assembly.

Recent years have seen several attempts to pass “card-check,” in some form, in Connecticut. The legislature’s Labor Committee has routinely approved such proposals.

The state continues to face a very tough economy and Connecticut has lost more than 100,000 jobs in the recession. Our business climate was recently ranked third- worst in the U.S. by the Beacon Hill Institute. It’s time for lawmakers and the business community work together on job creation and economic growth.

“Card-check” would be a dangerous and unnecessary diversion from those efforts. — Kia Murrell

Kia Murrell is a CBIA assistant counsel. She may be reached at 860.244.1931 or kia.murrell@cbia.com.