Union organizing bill is good for economy

Unfortunately opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act and now Jim Uszler of the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce are spreading misinformation designed to scare you into thinking that a level playing field for workers will hinder economic growth.

Actually, the post WWII expansion was largely fueled by organized labor and Americans of all income levels prospered as the middle class grew. In contrast, the economic growth of the last 20 years has been paid for on credit as anti-worker policies have kept middle class wages stagnant.

Income disparity is now at a level not seen since the age of the robber barons of the early 1900s.

EFCA would give workers a choice between secret ballot and open balloting (card check) in which workers sign a card stating their desire to be represented by a union. Currently, secret ballot elections are controlled by employers and leave workers open to intimidation by management and elections subject to tampering by employers. As a result, only 12 percent of workers have a union contract while almost 60 percent say they would choose to be represented by a union negotiator given the chance.

Some seeking to form unions are fired from their jobs. Workers who successfully organize are stonewalled by employers in negotiations and have no recourse under current rules. Mr. Uszler's letter promotes the fallacy that business interests are threatened by workers' interest. EFCA would restore balance to the worker-employer equation.

As jobs are created, workers earning decent wages will be able to resume the spending that drives our economy and increase savings rather than debt. Our spending supports businesses here in Mount Prospect and the chamber ought to recognize that there are a large number of middle class workers who reside in our community.

Joe Sonnefeldt

Mount Prospect