Unions and Unionization

Under current law, if 30% of employees in a bargaining unit sign a petition, or "authorization card" requesting unionization, then the petition goes to the National Labor Relations Board, which orders a secret ballot election. If 50% or more sign, then the employer can waive the election.

Under a proposed law, the secret election is bypassed if more than 50% sign the card, with elections still held for signatures totalling 30 - 50%.

Opponents of the bill take the position that a secret ballot is necessary to prevent coercion by union organizers, while proponents claim that the current system allows for coercion by the employer, including mandatory anti-union meetings and firings of pro-union employees.

Many employers have already taken pro-active measures, prohibiting their employees from speaking to union organizers, claiming that any conversation could be interpreted as inviting union organizing and recruiting.

Personally I'm no fan of unions, but if the majority of employees want union representation, employers should be prevented from punishing them or putting up roadblocks in their way. I find it much more likely that employers rather than union organizers would employ scare tactics and put roadblocks in the way of unionization. After all, before a union is in existance, the employer has all the power as well as the means and motive to forcefully dissuade employees from organizing.

Bottom line: don't believe everything that you hear about this bill.