House Passes�Card Check�

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   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: TIM RICHARDSON
(202) 547-8189
2 MARCH 2007

Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, vowed to continue the organization�s opposition to H.R. 800, the so-called �Employee Free Choice Act,� which was passed by the House yesterday on a 241-185 vote.

�This legislation has nothing to do with free choice�it�s an attack on an employee�s free choice,� Canterbury said. �The very foundation of our system of government�what Americans regard as fair and free choice, is the secret ballot election. This bill would replace this time-honored instrument of democracy with a system that invites coercion and abuse.�

The legislation as proposed would replace the current democratic process of secret ballots with a �card check� system that would rob employees of their privacy, power and voice in deciding who should represent and defend their rights as employees. Under this process, the identity of workers who signed�or refused to sign�union organizing cards would be made public to the union organizers as well as to the worker�s employer and co-workers, leaving these individuals vulnerable to threats and intimidation from union leaders, management, or both. The most common method for determining whether or not employees want a union to represent them is a private ballot election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The NLRB provides detailed procedures that ensure a fair election, free of fraud, where employees may cast their vote confidentially without pressure or coercion from unions, employers, or fellow employees.

�The only way to guarantee worker protection from coercion and intimidation is through the continued use of secret ballot election,� Canterbury said. �Without the anonymity of the secret ballot, the FOP would probably not exist today.�

The legislation now goes to the Senate for further action. It is not clear if the Senate will consider H.R. 800, or if it will develop similar legislation. In either case, such a bill is likely to need sixty (60) votes to overcome a filibuster. Additionally, the Administration has stated that, if Congress does pass the bill, the President would veto it. The support the legislation received in yesterday�s House vote would not be enough to overturn a presidential veto.

�Congress should be looking to broaden employee protections, not undermine the integrity of the current system,� Canterbury said. �We will continue to work against this bill in the Senate.�

The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States, with more than 325,000 members.

http://www.grandlodgefop.org/

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Cop_Bot Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Automated NewsBot Joined: January 28 2005 Location: Charleston Online Status: Offline Posts: 43868 Topics: 43311	Topic: House Passes�Card Check� Posted: March 02 2007 at 4:58am
	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: TIM RICHARDSON (202) 547-8189 2 MARCH 2007 Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, vowed to continue the organization�s opposition to H.R. 800, the so-called �Employee Free Choice Act,� which was passed by the House yesterday on a 241-185 vote. �This legislation has nothing to do with free choice�it�s an attack on an employee�s free choice,� Canterbury said. �The very foundation of our system of government�what Americans regard as fair and free choice, is the secret ballot election. This bill would replace this time-honored instrument of democracy with a system that invites coercion and abuse.� The legislation as proposed would replace the current democratic process of secret ballots with a �card check� system that would rob employees of their privacy, power and voice in deciding who should represent and defend their rights as employees. Under this process, the identity of workers who signed�or refused to sign�union organizing cards would be made public to the union organizers as well as to the worker�s employer and co-workers, leaving these individuals vulnerable to threats and intimidation from union leaders, management, or both. The most common method for determining whether or not employees want a union to represent them is a private ballot election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The NLRB provides detailed procedures that ensure a fair election, free of fraud, where employees may cast their vote confidentially without pressure or coercion from unions, employers, or fellow employees. �The only way to guarantee worker protection from coercion and intimidation is through the continued use of secret ballot election,� Canterbury said. �Without the anonymity of the secret ballot, the FOP would probably not exist today.� The legislation now goes to the Senate for further action. It is not clear if the Senate will consider H.R. 800, or if it will develop similar legislation. In either case, such a bill is likely to need sixty (60) votes to overcome a filibuster. Additionally, the Administration has stated that, if Congress does pass the bill, the President would veto it. The support the legislation received in yesterday�s House vote would not be enough to overturn a presidential veto. �Congress should be looking to broaden employee protections, not undermine the integrity of the current system,� Canterbury said. �We will continue to work against this bill in the Senate.� The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States, with more than 325,000 members. http://www.grandlodgefop.org/
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