Shouldn't employee have free choice?

I have been hearing about a bill pending a vote in Congress called the "Employee Free Choice Act" (EFCA).

The AFL-CIO ran a TV ad stating that it would "bring fairness to the workplace". But I had heard it would take away secret ballot elections from workers to determine if they wanted to join a union, which EFCA supporters deny. So I decided to research and this is what I learned: Presently a union organizer must collect signed "Union Authorization Cards" from 30% of an employer's workforce in order to request that the union represent that workforce. An employer has the right to say yes to that request (rare) or to request a secret ballot election (typical). Historically, if a union goes into an election with 51% signed cards, the union will lose. To be successful a union will need upward of 60% signed cards to have a better than 50-50 chance of winning election, so most will not attempt an election with less.

Obviously a worker signing a card with a union organizer and perhaps co-workers present does not ensure a "yes" vote from that worker in the privacy of the voting booth. The proposed EFCA bill will require an employer to recognize the union and enter into collective bargaining without an election, if the union has more than 50% signed cards. Unions have been claiming that EFCA won't circumvent elections, but rather gives workers a choice between using cards or an election to choose. In fact, it won't be the worker's choice, it will be the union's choice on whether to proceed with less than 50% cards - but over 50% it's a done deal and the union can begin collecting dues without risking an election loss. A more accurate name for this bill might be "Union's Free Choice Act".

Tom Roberts, Jr.

Elk Grove Village