LEGISLATIVE ALERT: The return of card check

Politico reports that tomorrow, the Democrats are expected to introduce the "Employee Free Choice Act," better known as card check, in the House. This legislation effectively removes the right to a secret ballot in workplace organizing elections, making workers vulnerable to public pressure, intimidation, and even coercion by union representatives.

Re-introduction of the card check legislation comes at a precarious time for the American economy. The latest U.S. Department of Labor jobs report released last week showed that 650,000 Americans lost their jobs last month, and the unemployment rate has climbed to 8.1 percent. Yet even amid continued job losses, special interest proponents of card check continue to push for the legislation, even though it has been shown to be a threat to American jobs.

Last week, a report from Dr. Anne Layne-Farrar, an economist with the non-partisan consulting firm LECG Consulting, found that America is likely to see a 1 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate for every 3 percentage points gained in union membership through card checks and mandatory arbitration, another damaging element of the so-called Employee Free Choice Act.

That translates to 600,000 American jobs lost in the first year after the card check plan is enacted if union bosses are accurate in their predictions that 1.5 million existing jobs will be unionized because of the legislation.

Congressman Shuster has stated his support for the right to a secret ballot - a cornerstone of our democracy and a necessary right that should be extended to the workplace and continues his opposition to the Democrats' card check legislation.

More information on the card check legislation will be posted as the legislative situation develops.

Stay tuned.....

Posted by: Press Secretary