The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Your View

March 16, 2009

Your View — Walz wants to remove secret ballot option

James Haler, St. James

I recently contacted Rep. Tim Walz concerning the Employee Free Choice Act. His response left me puzzled and concerned that Walz does not clearly know what he is in favor of and has already once voted for.

I would like to question the reasons he gave for supporting this legislation. Walz: “Currently, the National Labor Relations Board recognizes two means of forming a union: majority sign-up or NLRB elections. However, the decision about which method to use is made by the employer, instead of the workers themselves. Response: First of all elections for formation of a union are conducted by the National Labor Relations Board not employers. I have no idea what Walz is talking about when he states two means of forming a union and the method is made by the employer.

The first step in the formation of a union requires signatures of 30 percent of the employees involved. These signatures indicate there is an interest by the employees in union representation. Once this is accomplished the National Labor Relations Board holds a secret ballot. If the election indicates there is 50 percent plus one in favor of union the union wins. The National Labor Relations Act states “secret ballot.”

In my opinion, Walz wants to remove the secret ballot option by having 50 percent plus one of the signature cards qualify as the election. In my opinion, he wants to skip the process of providing workers with secret ballots (an election) and allow step one to be an election (step one is not a secret ballot).

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