Rep. Rooney's mistake

Under current law, unions may ask workers if they want to unionize by signing a card which goes to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) who certifies the results. The employers do not get to see who signed the cards.

If 30% of the workers want a union, the union may ask the NLRB to hold a secret ballot. Unions tend not to do that because they really need 50%.

If 50% secretly sign the card for union representation, the employer may then ask for the secret ballot. Since it takes at least a couple weeks before the NLRB can set up the election, employers can “persuade” workers or hire specialized companies who will do that for them! It is not uncommon for workers to be scared out of voting for a union.

The EFCA bill is designed to minimize corporate manipulation by allowing the secret card signing by 50% of the workers to be the vote to unionize.

Unions would be much less necessary if employers had their employees’ interests at heart.

While the St. Petersburg Times fact-checking website (www.politifact.com) says there would be fewer secret ballots under EFCA, their description indicates the card signing is kept secret from the employers and other votes, though secret, would be less needed under EFCA.

Rep. Rooney made the mistake of using a “talking point” about EFCA without reference to what is involved in current labor law and practice.

Christopher comments

To my last posting, "Christopher" offered a comment. Unfortunately, along with grammar, I have an ineptness with handling the internet so I find myself responding by posting.

Here's my response to Christopher, who if I read his comment correctly, must be from this part of Florida. Hey, he's a neighbor. How about that?

Welcome, Christopher, to my blog. Thank you for commenting.

Okay, you caught me. I haven't read the EFCA bill. I've taken the word of several different sources who said that secret ballot is an option if the workers choose to use it. The real issue appears to be who sets how the vote shall be taken, the employers or the employees.

Please send a copy and tell me where you got it.

Finally, be kind enough to point out what grammatical mistakes I made (am making here too?). I'm bad enough at grammar that I'm not even sure which mistakes you are talking about.

I'd have sent this by e-mail but I don't have your address.

Again, thank you for offering your thoughts. That's how we get to know each other. After all, we may agree on something else on which we must work together.