As expected, the card check compromise has arrived. The so-called card-check provision would have required employers to recognize a union as soon as a majority of workers signed cards saying they wanted a union. A half-dozen senators friendly to labor, faced with immovable opposition to the repugnant card check component of the Employee Free Choice Act, dropped that element of the proposed legislation earlier this month.

Marc Elliot, vice president for property development & public policy, stated, "The removal of the 'Card Check' provision from the proposed federal Employee Free Choice Act is a positive move. The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce believes in a worker’s fundamental right of privacy and that a worker’s decision to join a union should be made by private secret ballot rather than a card check process in order to protect the worker from coercion from a union, business, or any other interest."

It appears the Senators will, once again as expected, attempt to replace it with an expedited election feature. Though some details remain to be worked out, under the expected revisions, union elections would have to be held within five or 10 days after 30 percent of workers signed cards favoring having a union. Currently, the campaigns often run two months. This is good news and bad news. The good news is that the card check provision would protect employers from the “weekend ambush” where a majority of employees could be signed up at a union sponsored Jimmy Buffet concert. The bad news is that an election conducted within 5-10 business days of the filing of a petition will not afford an unprepared employer the opportunity to construct and conduct an effective campaign.

This legislation is expected to be on the Senate agenda in September. Now is the time for employers to contact their representatives. Once the Senate has acted, it will be too late! Log onto VoiceforSouthCentralKY.com to voice your opinion or use the following information to contact your Senators:

Sen. Bunning:

http://bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

Washington, D.C.
316 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202.224.4343
Fax: 202.228.1373

District 2 - Owensboro
423 Frederica Street
Room 305
Owensboro, KY 42301
Main: 270.689.9085
Fax: 270.689.9158
Toll free: 1-800-283-8983

Sen. McConnell:

http://mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm

Washington Office
361-A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2541
Fax: (202) 224-2499

Bowling Green (South Central Kentucky Office)
Federal Building
241 E. Main Street, Rm. 102
Bowling Green, KY 42101
Phone: (270) 781-1673

For additional information, contact Vice President, Property Development & Public Policy Marc Elliott at 270-781-3200 or marc@bgchamber.com.

Labels: Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Employee Free Choice Act, Small Business, Washington DC