Issue Position: Card Check and Employee Free Choice

Issue Position

H.R. 1409, the "Employee Free Choice Act of 2009," would amend the National Labor Relations Act (NRLA) to eliminate an employee's right to a private ballot in union organizing elections. Under current law, employees wishing to unionize have the right to a federally supervised secret vote by private ballot.

The "Employee Free Choice Act" or EFCA, would allow union organizers to collect ballots or "cards" from employees one at a time. If it passes, union organizers could approach employees at work, or at home and effectively force an employee to vote in front of them by either signing the card or refusing. Either way, the employee's choice would be known and organizers.

Used in democracies across the world, the secret ballot is the foundation of a free and open election process. It is the right to vote your conscience -- without fear of retribution, intimidation or undue influence. Attempts to eliminate the use of secret ballots are an assault on the democratic process.

To be clear, I fully support the right of workers to make the choice to form a union, join a union or assist in labor organization. I also support the right of workers to refrain from forming a union or joining a union.

Furthermore, I will fight to see workers' true "free choice" protected. Preserving and protecting our fundamental right to a vote free of harassment is an important obligation and is why I am a supporter of H.R. 1176, the "Secret Ballot Protection Act." This bill will protect the secret ballot while preserving and protecting an individual's right to freely choose to form, join, or assist labor organization or refrain from them.

In 2007, I voted against the Employee Free Choice Act, which passed the House but was not voted on by the Senate. I will do the same should this bill again be brought to the House floor for consideration.

Source