‘Card check’ union votes a bad idea

The Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Chamber of Commerce Executives Association and many other business organizations all oppose the misnamed federal Employee Free Choice Act (“Employee Free Choice Act not needed,” The News Virginian editorial, Dec. 30).

The Employee Free Choice Act is bubbling along again and will come up for another vote in Congress early this year. The last attempt to pass the pro-union bill occurred in 2007 when the House passed it by a vote of 241-185. It failed in the Senate by only a handful of votes.

Most of the Virginia House delegation voted correctly – against the bill. They included Reps. Tom Davis (who is retiring), Thelma Drake, Randy Forbes, Virgil Goode, Bob Goodlatte, Eric Cantor and Frank Wolf. Reps. Rick Boucher, Jim Moran and Bobby Scott sided with big labor. On the Senate side, Sen. John Warner (who recently retired) voted correctly – against the measure. Sen. Jim Webb not only voted for the bill, but co-patroned it.

This legislation is monumental. It would change the way union elections are conducted at worksites by eliminating an employee’s ability to decide whether to join a union through a private ballot election. Instead, the EFCA would allow a simple “card check” to represent the true intent of the employees. The problem with that is, it opens the process to intimidation, threats and badgering. Just imagine the problems if this concept were adopted in our democratic elections.

The EFCA poses an especially strong threat to our smallest industries and businesses. In 2005, for example, the vast majority of petitions filed and elections held in Virginia, as in prior years, involved companies employing fewer than 100 people.

Small businesses simply do not have the resources to contest organizing efforts and will be more susceptible to organizing than larger firms under this bill.

Union supporters indicate that the EFCA is needed simply to “level the playing field.” That is not the case in Virginia. As evidenced by Chamber reports, unions have won nearly half of all elections held in Virginia since 1989. Current law seems to be working just about right.

“Card check” elections are simply a bad idea. The right to a private ballot is a cornerstone of our democracy. It is a right we all exercise in our daily lives.

Benjamin E. Carter

President and CEO

Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce