Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on February 4, 2009

The vote was 67 in favor, 40 opposed and 3 not voting

(House Roll Call 0 at House Journal 0)

Click here to view bill details.

 This legislation is about as well named as the Patriot Act. 

How do I have more freedom to join a union or not by being exposed to pressure to sign (or not sign) a card?  If I sign that card, my "evil employer" may discover that I did, and act against me.  Or I may be pressured by union organizers and have to put up with that pressure and acts against me.

Secret ballot, just like we have for elections, avoids all this, because no one knows how I voted.

Or do you suggest that we start voting for president by have people run around and pressure me to vote one way or another?

Not a good idea.  If unions are that great, then a secret ballot will let workers choose a union.  If not, then, workers won't be forced to show whether or not they support a union, and will avoid any acts against them by anyone.

The employee free choice bill doesn't prevent the secret ballot election. What it does is prevents the employer from being able to intimidate employees while waiting for a secret ballot election to be scheduled. They can sign a card to start the unionizing process. This gives unions the level playing field they have lacked for years in their organizing efforts. It's about time the middle class workers had a chance to improve their lot.