/PRNewswire / -- The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) today thanked Senator Arlen Specter for his courageous stand in opposition to cloture and final passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.
In a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate today, Senator Specter voiced opposition to both the card check scheme and the job-killing binding interest arbitration provision.
"CDW appreciates Senator Specter's principled decision to protect worker privacy and secret ballot elections," said Brian Worth with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace.
Senator Specter's opposition effectively makes him the 41st vote against the bill.
Showing posts with label secret ballot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label secret ballot. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
CDW: Hoffa's Card Check Gaffe Coincides With 20th Anniversary of Justice Department Requiring Teamsters to Hold Secret Ballot Elections
/PRNewswire -- The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) is launching an advertising campaign on the card check issue this week that coincides with the 20th anniversary of the United States Justice Department ordering the Teamsters to allow its members to vote for their leaders by secret ballot. The Teamsters agreed to a landmark consent decree with the federal government on March 13, 1989 to avoid prosecution on mob-related corruption.
On March 10, 2009, James P. Hoffa, the current president of the Teamsters, mocked the importance of the secret ballot in a press release that commended Democratic congressional leaders for pushing forward with legislation to eliminate the secret ballot for union organizing elections.
In a desperate attempt to shift attention away from the fact that the card check scheme pushed by Big Labor and its allies on Capitol Hill would strip away worker privacy and make workers vulnerable to threats of intimidation and coercion, Mr. Hoffa, who has been elected by the Teamsters' secret ballot system three times, asked "since when is the secret ballot a basic tenet of democracy?"
The CDW ad campaign juxtaposes Hoffa's comments on the card check debate with the American people's overwhelming support of the secret ballot. A poll conducted in January for CDW found that 82 percent of likely voters believe a worker's vote in a union organizing election should be kept private; 86 percent believe a secret ballot election is the best way to protect the individual rights of workers. Only 11 percent support the card check scheme that would make the votes of workers public to their employers, co-workers and union organizers.
"The Teamsters were right to agree to use the secret ballot in 1989," said Brian Worth, with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace. "It cleaned up mob-related corruption and made the union more accountable to rank and file workers. I'm assuming Mr. Hoffa is not in favor of taking away the secret ballot from his members. I just don't understand how he can justify stripping it away from the millions of American workers who don't belong to his union."
On March 10, 2009, James P. Hoffa, the current president of the Teamsters, mocked the importance of the secret ballot in a press release that commended Democratic congressional leaders for pushing forward with legislation to eliminate the secret ballot for union organizing elections.
In a desperate attempt to shift attention away from the fact that the card check scheme pushed by Big Labor and its allies on Capitol Hill would strip away worker privacy and make workers vulnerable to threats of intimidation and coercion, Mr. Hoffa, who has been elected by the Teamsters' secret ballot system three times, asked "since when is the secret ballot a basic tenet of democracy?"
The CDW ad campaign juxtaposes Hoffa's comments on the card check debate with the American people's overwhelming support of the secret ballot. A poll conducted in January for CDW found that 82 percent of likely voters believe a worker's vote in a union organizing election should be kept private; 86 percent believe a secret ballot election is the best way to protect the individual rights of workers. Only 11 percent support the card check scheme that would make the votes of workers public to their employers, co-workers and union organizers.
"The Teamsters were right to agree to use the secret ballot in 1989," said Brian Worth, with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace. "It cleaned up mob-related corruption and made the union more accountable to rank and file workers. I'm assuming Mr. Hoffa is not in favor of taking away the secret ballot from his members. I just don't understand how he can justify stripping it away from the millions of American workers who don't belong to his union."
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
100,000 Americans Sign 'Freedom Not Fear' Petition While Congress Introduces Destructive 'Card Check' Bill
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Solutions announced today that more than 100,000 Americans have signed the "Freedom Not Fear" petition urging Congress to protect a worker's right to a secret ballot election when deciding whether to join a union. This comes on the day that the U.S. House and Senate introduced the so-called Employee Free Choice Act, or "Card Check," which would strip workers' of their private ballot rights.
The petition reads:
We, therefore, petition the U.S. Congress to ensure that every worker has the right to a secret ballot when deciding whether to organize a union, as well as the right to ratify the contract terms of their employment, rather than be forced to accept a contract through binding arbitration.
"Congress is stunningly out of touch with reality if they think the American people will support this destructive, job-killing bill. It is a deliberate attempt by big labor bosses to undermine one of our most fundamental first principles - the right to vote freely without coercion," said Saul Anuzis, Chairman of American Solutions' Save American Jobs Project. "These 100,000 Americans are the first of many more we will recruit on a state-by-state basis to bring constituent pressure to bear on their elected officials to defeat Card Check."
Introduction of the Card Check legislation comes at a particularly unstable economic time when we can't afford to lose more jobs. In fact, according to the new study by noted economist Dr. Anne Layne-Farrar, An Empirical Assessment of the Employee Free Choice Act: The Economic Implications, an increase of 1.5 million union members in year one would lead to the loss of 600,000 jobs by the following year.
"Small business owners are struggling to keep their doors open, and the last thing we need is more federally imposed work rules which will reduce competitiveness and kill more jobs," Anuzis said. "Instead of trying to pass this destructive bill, Congress should focus on positive solutions to create jobs and get our economy back on the right track."
To learn more about the "Freedom Not Fear" petition drive, visit www.AmericanSolutions.com/FreedomNotFear.
The petition reads:
We, therefore, petition the U.S. Congress to ensure that every worker has the right to a secret ballot when deciding whether to organize a union, as well as the right to ratify the contract terms of their employment, rather than be forced to accept a contract through binding arbitration.
"Congress is stunningly out of touch with reality if they think the American people will support this destructive, job-killing bill. It is a deliberate attempt by big labor bosses to undermine one of our most fundamental first principles - the right to vote freely without coercion," said Saul Anuzis, Chairman of American Solutions' Save American Jobs Project. "These 100,000 Americans are the first of many more we will recruit on a state-by-state basis to bring constituent pressure to bear on their elected officials to defeat Card Check."
Introduction of the Card Check legislation comes at a particularly unstable economic time when we can't afford to lose more jobs. In fact, according to the new study by noted economist Dr. Anne Layne-Farrar, An Empirical Assessment of the Employee Free Choice Act: The Economic Implications, an increase of 1.5 million union members in year one would lead to the loss of 600,000 jobs by the following year.
"Small business owners are struggling to keep their doors open, and the last thing we need is more federally imposed work rules which will reduce competitiveness and kill more jobs," Anuzis said. "Instead of trying to pass this destructive bill, Congress should focus on positive solutions to create jobs and get our economy back on the right track."
To learn more about the "Freedom Not Fear" petition drive, visit www.AmericanSolutions.com/FreedomNotFear.
Obama Economic Advisor Warren Buffett Speaks Out Against Card Check
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Legendary investor and prominent Obama economic advisor Warren Buffett has come out in opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act as Congressional supporters introduced the legislation today. The Employee Free Choice Act -- or "card check" legislation will effectively remove secret ballots for workers in union organizing elections and bind employers to contracts that inhibit their ability to create much-needed new jobs.
Buffett's opposition to card check comes on the heels of the release of a new economic study showing that the card check scheme will eliminate 600,000 American jobs by 2010 and result in severe job losses in future years as the workforce becomes more unionized.
The study, which was conducted by noted economist, Dr. Anne Layne-Farrar, concludes that every three percent increase in unionization will lead to a one percent increase in unemployment.
The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW), the leading business coalition opposing card check, has launched an advertising effort this week in Capitol Hill newspapers to educate lawmakers about the negative impact that the Employee Free Choice Act will have on our economy.
"In a time of deep recession, the last thing Congress should do is pass legislation that will cost Americans their jobs. Card check is a poison pill for our ailing economy. President Obama would be wise to heed the warnings of Mr. Buffett," said Brian Worth with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace.
Buffett's opposition to card check comes on the heels of the release of a new economic study showing that the card check scheme will eliminate 600,000 American jobs by 2010 and result in severe job losses in future years as the workforce becomes more unionized.
The study, which was conducted by noted economist, Dr. Anne Layne-Farrar, concludes that every three percent increase in unionization will lead to a one percent increase in unemployment.
The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW), the leading business coalition opposing card check, has launched an advertising effort this week in Capitol Hill newspapers to educate lawmakers about the negative impact that the Employee Free Choice Act will have on our economy.
"In a time of deep recession, the last thing Congress should do is pass legislation that will cost Americans their jobs. Card check is a poison pill for our ailing economy. President Obama would be wise to heed the warnings of Mr. Buffett," said Brian Worth with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
New Poll: Obama Voters Reject Big Labor's Card Check Agenda
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new national survey of 1,000 likely voters released by The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) shows strong opposition to The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) from the individuals who sent Barack Obama to the White House.
"Obama voters did not go to the polls last November to eliminate the secret ballot, and Congress should think twice about taking it away from millions of American workers," said Brian Worth with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace. "This bill is opposed by Democrats, Republicans, Independents, rank and file union workers, and President Obama's voters by roughly the same margins. The only support card check has is among the leaders of Big Labor who are willing to sacrifice worker privacy and put our economy at further risk to boost their membership roles."
Key findings of the poll include:
-- 73% of Obama voters are opposed to EFCA.
-- 86% of Obama voters believe that a worker's vote should be kept
private in a union organizing election.
-- 81% of Obama voters believe that secret ballot elections are the best
way to protect the individual rights of workers.
-- 81% of Obama voters believe that Congress should focus on other issues
like jobs and health care before dealing with EFCA.
-- 68% of Obama voters believe the binding arbitration provisions in EFCA
are risky and unwise.
-- 61% of Obama voters would be less likely to vote for a Member of
Congress who voted to take away the secret ballot from workers.
The findings reinforce why Big Labor's top priority is losing momentum. Even while he announced several labor-friendly initiatives at the White House last Friday, with prominent labor leaders in attendance, President Obama did not mention EFCA. This lack of recognition speaks volumes about the growing unpopularity of the legislation and its negative impact on worker privacy and job creation.
Voters don't support EFCA, and they want President Obama and Congress to focus on other issues like jobs and health care. This is a major set-back for the nation's labor bosses who were hoping for a win on EFCA in the early days of the 111th Congress.
"It's becoming clear why President Obama wants to put card check on the sidelines. This bill will strip away worker privacy and undercut his efforts to jumpstart the economy. It also happens to be wildly unpopular with the American people," Worth concluded.
Methodology: This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters in the United States was conducted from January 7th - 11th, 2009 by McLaughlin & Associates. The poll included 477 individuals who voted for President Obama last November. All interviews were conducted via telephone by professional interviewers. Interview selection was random within predetermined election units - in this case, the fifty states. These units were structured to correlate with actual voter turnout in a general election. This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters has an accuracy of +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence interval.
"Obama voters did not go to the polls last November to eliminate the secret ballot, and Congress should think twice about taking it away from millions of American workers," said Brian Worth with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace. "This bill is opposed by Democrats, Republicans, Independents, rank and file union workers, and President Obama's voters by roughly the same margins. The only support card check has is among the leaders of Big Labor who are willing to sacrifice worker privacy and put our economy at further risk to boost their membership roles."
Key findings of the poll include:
-- 73% of Obama voters are opposed to EFCA.
-- 86% of Obama voters believe that a worker's vote should be kept
private in a union organizing election.
-- 81% of Obama voters believe that secret ballot elections are the best
way to protect the individual rights of workers.
-- 81% of Obama voters believe that Congress should focus on other issues
like jobs and health care before dealing with EFCA.
-- 68% of Obama voters believe the binding arbitration provisions in EFCA
are risky and unwise.
-- 61% of Obama voters would be less likely to vote for a Member of
Congress who voted to take away the secret ballot from workers.
The findings reinforce why Big Labor's top priority is losing momentum. Even while he announced several labor-friendly initiatives at the White House last Friday, with prominent labor leaders in attendance, President Obama did not mention EFCA. This lack of recognition speaks volumes about the growing unpopularity of the legislation and its negative impact on worker privacy and job creation.
Voters don't support EFCA, and they want President Obama and Congress to focus on other issues like jobs and health care. This is a major set-back for the nation's labor bosses who were hoping for a win on EFCA in the early days of the 111th Congress.
"It's becoming clear why President Obama wants to put card check on the sidelines. This bill will strip away worker privacy and undercut his efforts to jumpstart the economy. It also happens to be wildly unpopular with the American people," Worth concluded.
Methodology: This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters in the United States was conducted from January 7th - 11th, 2009 by McLaughlin & Associates. The poll included 477 individuals who voted for President Obama last November. All interviews were conducted via telephone by professional interviewers. Interview selection was random within predetermined election units - in this case, the fifty states. These units were structured to correlate with actual voter turnout in a general election. This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters has an accuracy of +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence interval.
Monday, January 26, 2009
New Poll: Union Members Oppose Big Labor's Card Check
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new national survey of voters released today by the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) shows opposition coming from an unlikely source - union households. A special polling oversample of 400 union households shows both union members and all voters strongly opposing The Employee Free Choice Act, often called the "card check" bill.
The findings indicate widespread concern among both voters and union households about this legislation that threatens secret ballots, worker privacy and job growth. Both voters and union members tell pollsters that Congress should focus on other more important issues and put Big Labor's agenda aside.
"The strong opposition from current union members to the Employee Free Choice Act should send a clear signal to President Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress that the EFCA lacks popular support, both among a key Democratic constituency and voters as a whole," said Brian Worth with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace. "The only support card check has is among the leaders of Big Labor."
The poll was conducted by nationally respected polling firm of McLaughlin & Associates. It surveyed 1,000 likely voters with a sub-sample of 400 union households. The poll was conducted from January 7 to 11, 2009.
Key findings of the poll include:
-- Three out of four voters (74%) oppose the "The Employee Free Choice
Act." Union households also strongly oppose the Employee Free Choice
Act, 74% oppose to only 20% support.
-- When given a more detailed description of the Employee Free Choice
Act, nearly 9 out of 10 voters, 86%, feel the process should remain
private and only 8% feel it should be public information. Again, even
union workers feel strongly that the process should be kept private,
as 88% said private and only 8% said public.
-- Four out of five voters, or 82%, favor having a federally supervised
election as a means to "protect the individual rights of workers."
The voters clearly see this as a basic right, especially given that
only 11% of voters feel the card check would be the best way to
protect the individual rights of workers. Support increases to 85%
among union households.
-- The majority (52% to 26%) of American voters believe that the Employee
Free Choice Act is not good for job creation. Even among union
households, the plurality (48%) believes that the Employee Free Choice
Act will cost America jobs.
-- In the current economic climate, 52% of voters are particularly
opposed to any measure that would risk jobs or job growth.
-- Further exemplifying the electorates' distaste for the Employee Free
Choice Act, 71% agreed that this legislation would be "unwise" and
"risky." In today's economic climate, the electorate has little
confidence in the federal government's ability to make such major
business decisions.
Despite opposition from their own rank and file workers, labor bosses have made support for the EFCA, or "card check" bill, a top priority this year and are pressuring Congress to act quickly to pass it. Unfortunately for Big Labor, 79% of union workers and voters want Congress to focus on other issues like jobs and healthcare.
"Workers aren't fooled by Big Labor's attempt to increase their power at the expense of worker privacy," said Worth.
More information about the poll and CDW's efforts to protect secret ballots and worker privacy can be found at www.MyPrivateBallot.com.
Methodology: This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters in the United States was conducted from January 7th - 11th, 2009 by McLaughlin & Associates. An oversample of 193 union households was conducted, which brings the combined total of union households to 400. All interviews were conducted via telephone by professional interviewers. Interview selection was random within predetermined election units - in this case, the fifty states. These units were structured to correlate with actual voter turnout in a general election. This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters has an accuracy of +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence interval. The 400 sample of union households has an accuracy of +/- 4.9% at a 95% confidence interval.
The findings indicate widespread concern among both voters and union households about this legislation that threatens secret ballots, worker privacy and job growth. Both voters and union members tell pollsters that Congress should focus on other more important issues and put Big Labor's agenda aside.
"The strong opposition from current union members to the Employee Free Choice Act should send a clear signal to President Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress that the EFCA lacks popular support, both among a key Democratic constituency and voters as a whole," said Brian Worth with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace. "The only support card check has is among the leaders of Big Labor."
The poll was conducted by nationally respected polling firm of McLaughlin & Associates. It surveyed 1,000 likely voters with a sub-sample of 400 union households. The poll was conducted from January 7 to 11, 2009.
Key findings of the poll include:
-- Three out of four voters (74%) oppose the "The Employee Free Choice
Act." Union households also strongly oppose the Employee Free Choice
Act, 74% oppose to only 20% support.
-- When given a more detailed description of the Employee Free Choice
Act, nearly 9 out of 10 voters, 86%, feel the process should remain
private and only 8% feel it should be public information. Again, even
union workers feel strongly that the process should be kept private,
as 88% said private and only 8% said public.
-- Four out of five voters, or 82%, favor having a federally supervised
election as a means to "protect the individual rights of workers."
The voters clearly see this as a basic right, especially given that
only 11% of voters feel the card check would be the best way to
protect the individual rights of workers. Support increases to 85%
among union households.
-- The majority (52% to 26%) of American voters believe that the Employee
Free Choice Act is not good for job creation. Even among union
households, the plurality (48%) believes that the Employee Free Choice
Act will cost America jobs.
-- In the current economic climate, 52% of voters are particularly
opposed to any measure that would risk jobs or job growth.
-- Further exemplifying the electorates' distaste for the Employee Free
Choice Act, 71% agreed that this legislation would be "unwise" and
"risky." In today's economic climate, the electorate has little
confidence in the federal government's ability to make such major
business decisions.
Despite opposition from their own rank and file workers, labor bosses have made support for the EFCA, or "card check" bill, a top priority this year and are pressuring Congress to act quickly to pass it. Unfortunately for Big Labor, 79% of union workers and voters want Congress to focus on other issues like jobs and healthcare.
"Workers aren't fooled by Big Labor's attempt to increase their power at the expense of worker privacy," said Worth.
More information about the poll and CDW's efforts to protect secret ballots and worker privacy can be found at www.MyPrivateBallot.com.
Methodology: This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters in the United States was conducted from January 7th - 11th, 2009 by McLaughlin & Associates. An oversample of 193 union households was conducted, which brings the combined total of union households to 400. All interviews were conducted via telephone by professional interviewers. Interview selection was random within predetermined election units - in this case, the fifty states. These units were structured to correlate with actual voter turnout in a general election. This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters has an accuracy of +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence interval. The 400 sample of union households has an accuracy of +/- 4.9% at a 95% confidence interval.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Coalition for a Democratic Workplace to Congress: You Were Elected by Secret Ballot
/PRNewswire/ -- The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) today launched a new print ad highlighting the hypocrisy of members of Congress who enjoy secret ballots when choosing their leadership, while supporting the anti-worker Employee Free Choice Act, or "card check" bill. This undemocratic legislation will effectively remove secret ballots for workers in union organizing elections and bind employers to contracts that inhibit their ability to create much-needed new jobs.
The new ad reminds Congress that the recent battle between Rep. John Dingell and Rep. Henry Waxman for chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee was decided by secret ballot. Quoting Rep. Louise Slaughter, "It's a secret ballot. Thank the Lord," the ad urges Congress not to take away secret ballots for millions of American workers.
"If secret ballot elections are good enough for members of the Congress, they ought to be good enough for American workers," said Brian Worth with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace. "It's time for Congress to side with workers and oppose the job-killing Employee Free Choice Act."
Deciding whether to preserve the long-standing democratic right to a private ballot is one of the key issues that will define the Obama Administration in the first two years. The new Administration and the new Congress will face its first true test this year with the anti-worker Employee Free Choice Act. This Act, more aptly titled the Employee
"Forced" Choice Act, is nothing short of a full-frontal assault on American democracy and worker privacy.
CDW survey data indicates that support for maintaining private ballots in union organizing cuts across party lines. By a significant majority, Democrats, Republicans and Independents support maintaining a worker's right to cast their vote in private. Even among union households, a significant majority (69%) oppose the Employee Free Choice Act. And 76% of union voters say having a federally supervised secret ballot election is the best way to protect workers' rights when organizing a union.
The new ad reminds Congress that the recent battle between Rep. John Dingell and Rep. Henry Waxman for chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee was decided by secret ballot. Quoting Rep. Louise Slaughter, "It's a secret ballot. Thank the Lord," the ad urges Congress not to take away secret ballots for millions of American workers.
"If secret ballot elections are good enough for members of the Congress, they ought to be good enough for American workers," said Brian Worth with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace. "It's time for Congress to side with workers and oppose the job-killing Employee Free Choice Act."
Deciding whether to preserve the long-standing democratic right to a private ballot is one of the key issues that will define the Obama Administration in the first two years. The new Administration and the new Congress will face its first true test this year with the anti-worker Employee Free Choice Act. This Act, more aptly titled the Employee
"Forced" Choice Act, is nothing short of a full-frontal assault on American democracy and worker privacy.
CDW survey data indicates that support for maintaining private ballots in union organizing cuts across party lines. By a significant majority, Democrats, Republicans and Independents support maintaining a worker's right to cast their vote in private. Even among union households, a significant majority (69%) oppose the Employee Free Choice Act. And 76% of union voters say having a federally supervised secret ballot election is the best way to protect workers' rights when organizing a union.
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