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.