The Politics of Card Check: a Historic Analogy

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MCP Press Agency anticipated
the victory of the American leader.
Congratulations to the new President of USA, Barack Obama!
The brilliant result of the democrat Barack Obama, finalized through occupation of the Oval Chamber, brings to light also this time the power of the democracy which was predictable, not only a simple political slogan.
This model of democracy vitality proved clearly that Luther King's dream should had become a reality and that nothing is random.
So, the first Afro-American president, Barack Obama, declared in an impressive gathering that:
“I never had this much hope that we will win”.
For the representatives of the Organization which I represent, “MASS COMMUNCIATION POWER”, the motto: “With better peoples, the hope becomes reality!” can be surely confirmed also in Romania.
I recommend you to read also the Press Release of MCP Press Agency, from 15 of January 2007, called “In Memoriam of Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING”.
A conclusive paragraph of the present press release, state the fact that: “the idea of civil society, cannot exist outside the civil rights in a democracy, and those have as central point, the personality of Dr. KING, with his life and activity”.
The material is displayed on the website “Curaj.Net – Exprima-te!”.
The same article is posted also on my blog – Blogger: User Profile: MIHAIL GEORGEVICI
Yours,
President of “MASS COMMUNICATION POWER” (WWW.mcppress.ro)
Ec. MIHAIL GEORGEVICI

MIHAIL GEORGEVICI of WA 2:23AM January 24, 2009

The article by Ambinder says: "In effect, EFCA switches the choice to the workers; they can choose whether to hold a card check election or whether they want a regular secret ballot election." My question to him, and to you, Mr. Barone, is how do the workers determine which kind of election to have, by secret ballot, or by card check?

Eric Ivers of CA 3:49PM January 23, 2009

This is farcical argument. The law says that a secret ballot election can be chosen after at least 30% of the workers in a unit sign a card INDICATING THAT THEY WANT AN ELECTION. The cards that they sign, however, DO NOT SAY THAT. Sorry for yelling but this getting ridiculous. The cards say that the signer agrees to allow the union that presented the card to represent them in all matters pertaining to wages, benefits, etc. there is no option on the card to petition for a secret ballot election.
Furthermore, why would anyone, in any scenario, ever choose to have an election without knowing that you have at least 51% support? Didn't the House Leadership just re-learn that lesson, on both sides of the aisle, during the auto bailout debate?!
Finally, the secret ballot loss is only one of the incredible changes contemplated by the bill. Forcing employers and workers to submit to federally managed Interest Arbitration for a first contract is unheard of in US history. Interest Arbitration is actually the exact opposite of collective bargaining. Interest Arbitration is a a settlement that is imposed upon both sides. In fact, there is nothing in the law that requires the arbitrator to consider any offers made by either side during the initial rounds of bargaining. They can simply impose the terms and conditions of employment on both sides for two years.
Interest Arbitration is extremely rare. It is most commonly used in a situation where public safety is at risk, i. e. firefighters versus a state government type situations.
It is the most stunning encroachment on US businesses ever contemplated. Period.

John in DC of DC 3:02PM January 23, 2009

This is less than accurate. Many opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act are saying that secret ballots would be eliminated. This legislation does NOT eliminate the secret ballot. This legislation provides workers with a CHOICE to collect signatures up to a simple majority. Currently the corporate executives force an election when they get news of organizing efforts. The boss sets the timeline for an election and in most cases, unleash a negative, and costly, campaign against the workers that want to organize.

Steve of MO 2:21PM January 23, 2009

A private, secret, ballot is the "American Way" as long as the system offers protections protections to insure access to the voting booth and unbiased handling of the ballots.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 2:13PM January 23, 2009

We need to maintain the secret ballot elections so employers cannot know who to hate and who to favor.
HOWEVER, we need a complete re-write of labor law surrounding elections so that the elections are held very swiftly----not after some prolonged coercion period where the employer has time and opportunity to be a bully with hired lawyer help.

of 2:02PM January 23, 2009

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The Politics of Card Check: a Historic Analogy

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Michael Barone

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