Democrats Ban Use of Secret Ballot in Union Elections

Democrats Ban Use of Secret Ballot in Union Elections

U.S. Rep. Mark Souder today denounced passage by the Democrat-controlled House Education and Labor Committee of legislation (H.R. 800) that would strip workers of their right to a secret ballot in union organizing elections. Souder also criticized Democrat members of the committee for blocking certain common-sense amendments that were offered by Republicans during consideration of the bill.

"Democracy in the workplace took a big hit today," said Souder, a senior Republican member of the committee. "I'm really disappointed that the Democrats would strip American workers of their right to a secret ballot vote in union organizing elections. The secret ballot is a cornerstone of democracy in the United States, and yet—if this bill is signed into law—American workers will lose their right to vote in private."

"I'm also displeased that the Democrats killed a number of common-sense amendments that Republicans offered," Souder added. "For example, judging by their vote, Democrats think that illegal immigrants should be able to vote in union organizing elections."

Under current law, unions may organize through either a federally-supervised secret ballot election or a so-called "card check" system. If enacted into law, the Democrat bill would kill private voting rights altogether and make workers' votes public in all cases through a mandatory "card check." Under the "card check" system, union leaders gather authorization cards purportedly signed by workers expressing their desire for a union to represent them. Mandatory "card checks" can strip workers of their right to choose—freely and openly—whether to unionize. Moreover, "card checks" are notorious for leaving workers open to coercion, pressure, and outright intimidation.

Republican members of the Education and Labor Committee offered the following amendments to the bill, all of which were opposed by the Democrats and subsequently failed:

* The Guaranteed Secret Ballot Amendment would have prohibited the "card check" system and provided that a union may only be recognized/certified following secret ballot elections conducted by the National Labor Relations Board.
* The Immigration Status on Card Check Amendment would have required a union to demonstrate that any card presented for union representation be signed by a U.S. citizen or legal alien.
* The Equalize Enforcement Actions Amendment relates to the coercion of an employee during a "card check" campaign, and it would have made the law fairer by ensuring that the civil penalties and liquidated damages that currently apply to employers also apply to unions.
* The Bona Fide Workers Only Amendment would have limited the impact of "salting," a method by which union organizers briefly work at a company in order to organize a union, and then quit.

Souder supported all of the four, above-listed amendments.

Following today's approval of H.R. 800 by the Committee on Education and Labor, the legislation will be reported to the House floor for consideration by the whole House of Representatives.

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