Should Congress OK New Labor Law?

The reasons unions cite for passing EFCA are not supported by objective data. EFCA is undemocratic. No one wants to elect government representatives without a secret ballot. But unions want to gain power that way because EFCA eliminates workers' rights to decide on union representation through an election. Instead, unions could quietly get employees to sign cards in favor of unions. Employees would lose the right to change their minds after hearing their employer's point of view and discussing the decision with peers. Even liberal Democrat George McGovern recognizes that employees would be subjected to peer pressure and intimidation with the loss of the secret ballot. Employers' rights to set wages, hours and employment terms would be usurped by a government arbitrator. EFCA's excessive penalties, aimed only at employers, would stifle their free speech rights as unions pile on complaints about employer's "violating" the rules. Ultimately, employees could lose the right to speak for themselves and their jobs would be less secure.

This article appeared in the August 2, 2009 edition of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.