Former Democratic Presidential Candidate George McGovern Opposes his Party's Support of the Employee "Free Choice" Act
Passage of “Card Check” legislation is the #1 mission of Labor after the elections. Legislation was first introduced in 2003. The bill sailed through the House last year and then was blocked by a Senate filibuster, failed, and then was taken off the floor.
If passed workers would lose their right to a private ballot when deciding whether to join a union. The legislation would allow unions to form if more than 50% of workers signed a card saying they want to join. Workers can be approached repeatedly and in public. Their signatures can be made public to the employer, to union organizers, and to co-workers inviting both peer pressure and intimidation. This is the opposite of the secret ballot, the core of our democracy.
Former senator and 1972 democratic presidential candidate George McGovern recently spoke out against the bill in the Wall Street Journal.
“…Voting is an immense privilege. That is why I am concerned about a new development that could deny this freedom to any Americans. As a long time friend to labor unions, I must raise my voice against pending legislation I see as disturbing and undemocratic overreach not in the interest of either management or labor. The legislation is called the Free Choice Act and I am sad to say it runs counter to ideals that were once at the core of the labor movement. Instead of providing a voice for the unheard, the Employee Free Choice Act risks silencing those who would speak.”
“…Some of the most respected Democratic members of Congress …have advised that workers in developing countries such as Mexico insist on the secret ballot when voting as to whether or not their workplaces should have a union. We should have no less for employees in our country.”
The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, 500 associations and organizations from all over the country, joined together to protect workers right to a private ballot. To learn more and take action go to www.myprivateballot.com.