Last month, the Workforce Fairness Institute partnered with the California NFIB to highlight that card checking legislation was on the verge of being enacted into law. The U.S. Congress has rejected similar legislation promoted by Big Labor known as the Employee ‘Forced’ Choice Act. And last year, voters across the country supported candidates for Federal office who stood up to Big Labor and their agenda that forces workers into unions and costs our economy jobs.
Yesterday, legislation that would remove the secret ballot in union organizing elections for farmworkers cleared the California General Assembly and is headed to the desk of Governor Jerry Brown. If signed into law, the legislation would diminish worker freedom. Union bosses at any time could approach a worker and ask them to sign a card in support of unionization. This would leave workers vulnerable and allow union bosses to intimidate and coerce workers into joining a union.
Small businesses also stand to lose if Governor Brown doesn’t stand up to Big Labor. At a time when jobs are the number one priority in this country, this would lead to increased unemployment.
So why is Big Labor, led by the United Farm Workers, seeking this radical change in law? Because they want ‘payback’ for their past political support of California politicians. Union bosses will try to paint this as a victory for workers, but in reality it’s not. More workers in unions means more union dues for union bosses to funnel to candidates who support this job-killing legislation.
In 1975, then-Governor Jerry Brown joined with labor leader Cesar Chavez to help pass the Agriculture Relations Act. The cornerstone of this pro-worker legislation was ensuring the secret ballot in union organizing elections, which they both supported.
Governor Brown should carry on the tradition of Cesar Chavez by supporting the secret ballot. He can do this by vetoing this misguided legislation.
