EFCA-vs-Malarkey

Here's how organizing currently works:

 

Workers contact a union.  They say want to be organized. The union comes in and asks people to sign pledge cards.  They ask.  There is no coercion.  After a sufficient majority of workers have signed pledge cards, the process of setting up a representational election begins.  By the way, the pledge cards are signed.  They are not secret.  The union knows who signed one and who didn't.  Once again, there is no coercion to sign a card.  Either a majority of the workers want a union or they don't.

 

Many employers illegally fire union supporters during the pledge card campaign.  They don't care that their actions are illegal.  By the time the issue is settled in court, some other workers who formerly supported unionization have been scared off.   They don't want to get fired too.  Employers willingly pay fines and back wages after being found guilty of illegally firing union supporters.  They believe those paltry inconveniences are worth beating back an organizing drive.

 

As the vote draws near, employers often hire anti-union companies to fight unionization.  Captive audience meetings are held.  Lies are told about the union.  Workers are threatened.  The companies that are hired to beat back unionization are part of a multi-million dollar "industry".   They are the dregs of society.  Prior to the vote, both the union and the employer knows who signed pledge cards.  There is nothing "secret" about that.  It's the law. (The GOP, labor-hating malarkey about the sanctity of "secret" elections is a ruse…a lie.)

 

The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) would allow prospective union members to gain union representation without a vote.  Union representation could be achieved if a majority of the workers sign pledge cards.  The EFCA would impose severe penalties on employers who commit unfair labor practices (break the law) like firing workers for union activities, or holding captive meetings.

 

Don't fall for the "secret" versus not secret mumbo-jumbo.  It is a red herring that is being exploited by corporate union haters and their surrogates in Congress.

 

Here's a fact:  Most non-union states – like South Carolina -  have higher than normal rates of illiteracy, lousy state health care plans, and high rates of poverty.  Low, non-union  wages are accompanied lower standards of living.  Do the research!  The facts are there!  Union households enjoy higher standards of living.  What worker is his or her right mind would be opposed to better living standards?

 

Don't let the liars prevail.  Support the EFCA and tell your elected representatives to do the same!