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Preserve the secret ballot in union certification elections
TweetPreserve the secret ballot in union certification elections
EDITOR:
I am the president of Ellwood Engineered Castings in Hubbard. I am proud of EEC’s productive nonunion employees, who produce large castings for industrial equipment and steel ingot producers located all around the world. We have world-class people making world-class parts for world-class customers.
I am writing about the so-called Employee “Free Choice” Act, a piece of federal legislation now being proposed by labor unions in Congress. The proposed bill would:
- Take away employees’ right to a “secret ballot election” as to whether they are represented or not by a labor union.
- Give unions the right to be certified as the exclusive bargaining representatives of a company on the basis of the union’s collecting authorization cards signed by a claimed majority of company employees. (Who will authenticate signatures?)
- Empower a federal mediator to impose a labor contract on company management and employees in the event a new union and the company cannot agree on the terms of a first labor contract.
It is simply not right to take away employees’ right to a secret ballot. If we elect our city, state and federal officials by secret ballot, why is it suddenly not a good method to allow an employee the right and security of a secret ballot while voting for or against union representation?
Union organizers could make any type of promise about what they can win just to get an employee to sign an authorization card. Employees could be harassed or even threatened by union organizers to sign cards without having the ability to change their mind during the security of a secret ballot.
Federal arbitrators will determine pay and benefit levels in companies about which they know nothing. How can someone from Washington run a business here in eastern Ohio?
Why are the unions pushing this bill so strongly? Because they cannot consistently win a high percentage of secret ballot elections when good employees hear both sides on the issues and can vote in the security of a secret ballot.
I fear and predict that passage of this bill will result in massive disinvestment in new plants and equipment across the United States.
Why is it that the only significant new jobs added in our community in the last 25 years come from nonunion companies? Why would we want to shut down or drive away these employers?
I would ask my fellow citizens in eastern Ohio to contact our U.S. senators and representatives to oppose this poorly conceived law that could lead to coercion of employees and the loss of their right to the security of a secret ballot.
DAN RHOADS
Hubbard
Look for ‘made in USA’ tag
EDITOR:
The powers that be, with the malignant help of the American citizenry, have gotten us into another war. This war is not of the military but of the economy.
Excluding the members of the military, we were never asked to sacrifice for the two wars in the Middle East, but we will be asked to do so in this one. How? Well, any item that is to be purchased, unless the purchase is absolutely necessary, should have a “made in USA” tag attached to it.
I know, you say, “I can’t find anything made here anymore.” That’s where the sacrifice comes into play. If one would just take the item chosen to the counter and before paying the sales clerk, check the tag. If it is imported, tell the clerk, “Oh! It’s not made in the U.S.A. I think I’ll pass on this.”
This war can be won if we all stick together. Otherwise, unemployment will continue to rise and federal, state, and local tax revenues along with our Social Security income will continue to fall.
DANIEL F. McCALLISTER
Cheswick, Pa.
Comments
If Ellwood Engineered Castings in Hubbard is a world-class employer that rewards their productive world-class nonunion employees with world-class wages, decent benefits, and a safe working environment, Mr. Rhoads does not have to be concerned about a secret ballot. Assuming that his employees are content with their employment at EEC, the bulk of them would never sign an authorization card. Therefore, a union vote would not be required. Also, the National Labor Relations Board addresses his concern about the authenticity of signatures on the authorization cards.
As most people are aware, unions are only formed when employees are being exploited. No one I know wants to pay dues to a third party unless there is no alternative.
Only 12.4% of American workers belong to unions. Why are you so obsessed with them? This is America. People have the right to belong or not belong. If you want to belong to a union don't work for a nonunion company. If you don't want to belong to a union don't work for a company that uses organized labor. Get a life of your own and stop worrying about how other people chose to live their lives support their families and plan their future. It's none of your business.
Mr. Rhoads,
The Employee Free Choice Act does not take away a workers right to a secret ballot election. Under the proposed legislation, WORKERS have the ability to choose the Union formation process-elections or majority sign up. Under the current law's provisions, if a majority of persons in the workplace want to form a union (50% + 1)the company could recognize them WITHOUT an election...but they rarely do. Which gives the COMPANY the choice to have an election or not. This is not how democratic elections are held for political office in which you made the comparison.
As far as first contract mediation goes, if employer's would make a true effort to bargain in good faith with their organized workers, this would be a non-issue. The Employee Free Choice Act would only mandate arbitration if requested by the workers when there is a failure to reach an agreement after 90 days. Currently, stalling and bad faith bargaining by the company in first contract negotiations is rampant and only one-third of workers ever manage to obtain a first contract.
In addition, do not look at corporations in the vaccuum of your own operations. Though you and your workforce may have a positive and productive relationship (which would be commendable), do not turn a blind eye. Good hard working employee's and their families are struggling to get by while injustices are taking place. The disparity between corporates and the shrinking middle-class is ever increasing. There is intimidation, coersion, harrassment, sub-standard safety conditions and copensation in the workplace today. Employee Free Choice Act gives the right to organize back to the worker.
Finally, I am a proud product of the Mahoning Valley myself. The people of Youngstown and its suburbs are as tough and hardworking as they come. Please do not try to corelate the demise of industry in the Valley on Unions or its members; or suggest that only non-union employers have made a ecomomic contribution in the past 25 years.
Disinvestment in this country has been going on for the past 25 years not because of employees (union or non-union), it is greed. Decisions made to increase stockholder profits as opposed to community growth. A well paid worker puts his/her money back into the economy of the place where they live. They take pride in the products that they produce because we see they are used and purchased by their community and its people. What have stockholder's done for Youngstown? Our Nations economy? Forced outsourcing overseas to companies with:
poverty-waged workers,
no hours of work standards,
no safety standards,
no pollution standards,
no child-labor laws,
low quality standards,
no interest in abiding by international copyright laws
NOTICE THE IRONY?
Curt Hess
3rd generation union-worker
The right to a secret ballot is essential to all citizens of this country when voting on anything from elected officials to union organization to increased taxes. It allows people to express their views without having to worry about peer pressure and retaliation. If this bill passes in Congress this is another example of once again losing individual freedom.
Red Angel,
Again, It does NOT do away with a secret ballot vote. Refer to the bill and READ IT...FoxNews is not a good source.
EEC -- Some questions for EEC and Dan Rhoads --
Does EEC utilize natural resources effectively and efficiently?
Does EEC have an admirable safety record?
Does EEC expose its employees and/or community to LEAD and/or any other hazardous metals/elements? Does EEC dispose of hazardous chemicals in a responsible manner?
Does EEC have an adequate and successful training program for its employees?
Does EEC compensate and/or treat its employees equally and fairly throughout the company?
Does EEC offer wages higher, lower or equal to those wages offered at other comparable (UNION)foundries in "U.S.A"?
What is the turnover rate at this "NON-UNION" company?
What is the """TRUE""" QUALITY or your "WORLD CLASS" "NON-UNION" product?
What are the stats on your "ON TIME DELIVERY" of your product, that "MEETS" or "EXCEEDS" customer specifications?
Does EEC have meetings dedicated to the suppression and/or deterrence of any/all union relations?
(Is this "FREE CHOICE", or is it "LET'S SPREAD PROPAGANDA AND FEAR to INFLUENCE THE "FREE CHOICE"???)
DAN RHOADS asks, "WHY ARE THEY PUSHING THIS BILL SO STRONGLY?" ASK HIM, WHY IS HE SO STRONGLY OPPOSING any ADVANCEMENT in the current UNION situation??
IS IT FEAR?
IS IT THE SAME FEAR THAT MOST "NON-UNION" EMPLOYERS IMPOSE ON EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE LESS THAN FAVORABLE WORK ENVIRONMENTS?(pay, equality, expectations, safety, etc.)
I've witnessed several companies using scare tactics/threats and/or compensation/promotions and other perks prior to the "SECRET BALLOT ELECTION" to influence the vote. Think about it, give 51% of the workers a raise so you won't have to give 100% of the workers a raise and a better work environment!!!! Or be threatened that the company will "CLOSE THE DOORS" before becoming UNION!!!(GEE I WONDER WHY THE UNIONS CAN'T CONSISTENTLY WIN a high percentage of secret ballot elections when good employees hear both sides on the issues and can vote in the security of a secret ballot)(GOOD EMPLOYEES or INFLUENCED?)
Does EEC use "UNION" companies that have gone "BELLY UP" as an example of "HOW HORRIBLE" and "HOW DANGEROUS" a "UNION" can be. Even though the reasons are totally unrelated to "UNION REGULATIONS"!
TO ALL NON-UNION workers and supporters!!! Ask a "UNION WORKER" in a position similar to your own, about their pay and work environment, I'll bet that they have it better than YOU!! DAN RHOADS, are you comfortable with your employees choosing to join the union??? If that is what they choose, are you supportive??? Or were you just trying to APPEAR supportive of the "EMPLOYEE's RIGHTS" while embedding your PROPAGANDA and Derogatory Opinions of the UNION in your article?????? WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!
UNION ALL THE WAY!!!!
In order to eliminate union intimidation (and please don't anyone try to tell me the unions do not have a long history of doing just that!) every worker deserves a fair and secret ballot. Regardless of anything said to the contrary, that is the American way and it must be preserved. Does anyone doubt that the job drain to foreign countries is partly due to high and unsustainable wages and benefits....and that the other half is our totally screwed up, too complicated and too high tax system?