secret ballot elections

Quick Hits -- June 1, 2008

Will Collins — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:25:14 -0400

A few Right to Work-related updates from over the weekend:

IAM Union's Sham Elections: Kim Jong-il Would Be Proud

Will Collins — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:26:24 -0400

The International Association of Machinists (IAM) has a long and troubled relationship with true workplace representation. In fact, the union bosses' authoritarian nature of governance more closely resembles communist North Korea.

Section B-2 of the IAM's "Official Circular No. 813 - Strike Sanctions and Benefits" (pdf) lays out the organization's procedures for accepting a renegotiated contract or rejecting a new offer from management and going on strike:

". . . a secret ballot vote by the membership present and voting must carry by a two-thirds (2/3) majority in order to declare a strike."

read more

Stars and Stripes Forever?

Justin Hakes — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:48:40 -0500

The American flag will now fly at election sites where employees vote over whether or not to unionize, according to a recent announcement by the National Labor Relations Board. How ironic, considering that union officials are pressing to eliminate secret ballots over whether to unionize in favor of the coercive "card check" process, where employees are often pressured individually.

Unfortunately, the secret ballot election process is not without fault either. If 1,000 employees vote overall, and 501 vote to unionize, the other 499 must accept unwanted union "representation" over their wages and working conditions, and in 28 states pay dues or be fired. Such tyranny of the majority has no place over such fundamental choices as the Right to Work in a country that prides itself on individual freedom to choose.