Sen. Arlen Specter: Party Change Renews Hopes For Employee Free Choice Act

Response to Ms. Sullivan's Apr. 29 Comment

Respectfully Ms. Sullivan, the EFCA will not take away the right of employees to a secrete ballot election. It will merely remove the right of employers to demand a secrete ballot election. The employees' right to demand a secrete ballot election will remain. Also, if you review NLRB decisions thoroughly, I think you will see that the vast majority of employee intimidation is conducted by employers, not unions. If anyone intimidates you at your job regarding your support or opposition to union representation, you should report such intidmidation to the NLRB, and if the intimidation is physical, report it to the police. If you are serious about reducing intimidation of employees, it seems you should support the EFCA. Most intimidation of workers occurs during the period between the employer's call for an election and the date of the election. If the EFCA is passed, no longer will the employer be able to create an opportunity to intimidate its employees before they choose whether to be represented by a labor organization. Additionally, "card check" already exists under current law because a prerequisite to recognition is an expression of support by at least a third of all employees in an appropriate bargaining unit. In order to demonstrate that support, a labor organization must get employees to sign cards expressing their support. If, under existing law, unions have the right to approach employees in an attempt to get them to sign such cards, what basis do you have to believe that the EFCA will result in more intimidation by unions? Examine the source of opposition to the EFCA and I am confident you will see that the vast majority of opposition is coming from shareholders, directors and officers of corporations who have a misplaced fear of a decline in share value. Such people care not about the well being of employees like you.

David Tufts of AL @ Apr 30, 2009 10:07:56 AM