WSJ: Free Choice for Workers by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy

[Omaha Steve]

April 10, 2008; Page A13

Kimberley Strassel's Potomac Watch column, "The Union Agenda" (April 4) contains a glaring misrepresentation about the Employee Free Choice Act now pending in Congress. It's not that the bill "would outlaw secret ballots in union organizing elections." The Employee Free Choice Act does not abolish Board elections. That process would still be available. Instead, it gives workers -- not employers -- the choice about how to choose union representation: either by having an election or by using employee-signed cards, known as majority sign-up.

It's important for workers to have this choice. Today, they're forced to accept their employer's unilateral decision to invoke a process, in which workers and unions have no right to express support for the union, but employers can, and often do, intimidate, harass, and discriminate against union supporters. Majority sign-up is a fair and simple alternative that's been used lawfully as long as union elections. Many fair-minded employers have chosen majority sign-up, and have found that it greatly reduces workplace conflicts.

It makes sense for employees to have the final say in the important decision on whether to have union representation. The Employee Free Choice Act is about giving workers a real choice -- not taking it away.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
(D. Mass.)
Washington

[gateley]

1. K&R --He's truly had our backs for lo these many years. nt