Employee Free Choice Act - Bad for West Virginia

In March of this year, federal lawmakers in Congress introduced identical bills in the House and Senate under the guise of the "Employee 'Free Choice' Act." As H.R. 1409 and S.560 currently sit in committee, worker freedoms within the workplace are threatened by a misleading title. In effect, this bill will ensure that workers who do not wish to participate in unions will have everything but a "free choice."

What does this mean for West Virginia? Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, West Virginia currently has 213,000 workers who are members of, or represented by, unions and similar interests. And while many states have had declining union populations over the past few years, West Virginia has been increasing its union membership (increasing over 1% from 2007-2008, alone). Also, West Virginia ranks 34th of 50 states in highest concentration of unionized workers, according to the AFL-CIO. Issues that greatly impact unionization directly impact West Virginia.

In effect, passage of the Free Choice Act would give unions increased powers to make union membership easier- through coercion. Currently, corporate unionization takes place via secret ballot, a time honored right that Americans have enjoyed since the introduction of the Australian ballot to America in 1884. However, under this proposed legislation, workers forfeit secret ballot privileges and are subject to scrutiny from peers and coercion from union organizers. Instead of voting behind the curtain, workers will publicly cast their vote by signing a card - through whatever "creative" means organizers deem acceptable. This is not only unethical and disingenuous, taking away central freedoms is un-American.

When it comes to wages and standard of living, data is often mixed and inconclusive in determining whether unionization is beneficial, or not. Some sources say unionized workers make higher wages than those who do not organize collective bargaining. However at the same time, there is an equally large contingency stating that non-unionized workers enjoy a higher quality of life and increased freedom. Risking individual freedom undermines the very liberties that America boasts and has sacrificed to secure, especially when gambling on an unsafe bet.

I am not necessarily against unions, or efforts to represent worker interests and rights. And in name, I would certainly support the free choices of employees. However, I am against the Employees Free Choice Act because it fails to protect those who do not wish to unionize, even forcing them to join the union with personal and professional threats. Unions have improved the lives of countless workers, but only when joining them was voluntary. Forcing a worker to unionize is unacceptable, and only supports large labor organizations that thrive upon power. Coercive unionization and the Employee Free Choice Act only have intentions to enact a vicious power cycle: increase membership, to raise more dues, to gain more political power, to increase membership, etc.

The Employee Free Choice Act undermines American freedom and liberty, and it is bad for West Virginia.

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Center for Union Facts