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Investors.com ^ | February 9, 2010 | INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY Staff

[Kaslin]

Labor Policy: And you thought card check legislation was dead? That certainly appeared to be the case last spring. But now there's talk of attaching it to a jobs bill. Dirty politics and lousy policy.

Card check, known last year as the Employee Free Choice Act, is an attempt to fundamentally change the way unions organize. Under a card check law, a union would be certified if a simple majority of workers signed the cards that were used to gauge their interest in unionization. A follow-up vote through a secret ballot, the traditional method of certifying a union, would not be needed. It's a coercive arrangement that would invite worker intimidation and create unhealthy tension in the workplace.

Union bosses, naturally, want the legislation made law because it makes their jobs easier. They don't care that half or more of workers in a newly unionized company could be organized despite their wishes to the contrary so long as the reluctant members pay dues.

The legislation, which failed in Congress in 2007, was a priority a year ago for the young administration. But the public didn't like it, and neither did a few Democratic senators. It appeared to be dead.

In reality, though, it's merely wounded. The unions want card check to be part of a federal jobs bill. Another reason to kill legislation that won't create or save any meaningful private-sector jobs.

Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus once said of card check legislation: "This is how a civilization disappears." He may be exaggerating a bit. But he's not far off.

The negative effects of card check go beyond violation of workers' right to a secret ballot, forced unionization and job losses. There are harmful impacts on companies and consumers.

[i_dont_chat]

Worth noting:

It’s a coercive arrangement that would invite worker intimidation and create unhealthy tension in the workplace.

[FrankR]

obama loves unions

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unions run obama

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allow unions to have card check, next we lose secret ballots in our national elections and resort to union, mob-like tactics.

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obama is pResident dictator forever.

[antidemoncrat]

Don’t think the One has given up on healthcare, cap and trade, card check, or any other action that will allow the Progressives to eventually have total control of the three branches of the Republic’s Government.