As highlighted in the RLC’s latest press release, the House and Senate are considering versions of the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as “card check,” legislation that would place “an unreasonable burden on small and mid-sized businesses and would be a disaster for America’s already troubled economy,” warned RLC Chairman Dave Nalle. The House version of the bill is sponsored by George Miller (D) and already has 233 co-sponsors. The Senate version is sponsored by Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and has 46 co-sponsors.
“With such strong partisan support,” warns Nalle, “this ironically misnamed bill, which would take free choice away from workers, stands a very real chance of passing.” Under the current rules laid out by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), unions organize workers through a private election system with secret balloting and then bargain collectively with employers.
Under EFCA, American workers will lose the protection of the secret ballot which is a cornerstone of democracy. “If card check passes, workers will be coerced into joining unions against their will, swelling union treasuries with billions of dollars that will go to support the same Democrat politicians who have been promoting this bill,” said Dave Nalle.
According to statistics compiled by the National Institute for Labor Relations Research, over the five years from 2002 to 2007, private-sector jobs in Right to Work states increased from 40.92 million to 44.85 million, or 9.6%. Over this period, states which forced unionization on private-sector employers saw much smaller job increases, from 67.27 million to 69.72 million, a gain of just 3.6%. “At a time when we’re losing hundreds of thousands of jobs a month, placing roadblocks in the way of private employers is pure madness,” noted Nalle.
“EFCA is almost certain to pass the House, so the best hope for stopping it is in the Senate,” said Nalle. He suggests that concerned citizens write to Democrat Senators Baucus of Montana, Begich of Alaska, Bennet of Colorado, Dorgan of North Dakota, Lincoln of Arkansas, Pryor of Arkansas, and both Republican Senators from Maine. Nalle believes these Senators will play a deciding role in whether card check will pass and impose forced unionism on businesses and workers nationwide in 2009. “We have fought to ensure that we would have an economy based on free labor. Workers who are forced to join a union are not free,” concluded Nalle.
Founded in 1991, the Republican Liberty Caucus exists to promote individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise within the Republican Party by: (a) promoting these ideals among Party officials and its various organizations, (b) identifying and supporting candidates sympathetic with these ideals, and (c) promoting Caucus membership among Republican Party registrants, officials, and officeholders.
Permalink
Comments Off
