"All we are saying...is give us a choice"

Written by: Matthew Dodd on Mar 4, 2009 11:36 PM EST

Linked to groups: Lincoln DFA Meetup

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

A little something for the workers of the world, eh? That’s a refreshing change. The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is a piece of legislation that will soon be taken up again after passing in the House of Representatives in 2007, but stalling in the Senate.

As a blue-collar worker, I am all for the EFCA. If employees are interested in organizing and having union representation, why should they be the ones to jump through all of the hoops? It seems that current laws do not go as far to offer the worker a true voice in the process. I completely understand the reasoning of opponents who say that this removes the worker’s privacy. Unfortunately, that simply isn’t true.

With the current law, at least 30% of workers must “show their hand” to even get the opportunity for a “secret ballot.” Where is the privacy in that? All this new legislation does is cut through several yards of red tape and opens the process up to let workers become a part of the decision as to whether or not to organize in the first place. Businesses that oppose the legislation do so primarily on the concerns for the privacy of their employees. The fact is that, under the new legislation, workers can still opt for a secret ballot. No rights for the employees are being removed at all. The legislation simply does what its name implies; gives workers a free choice in the matter.

Why don’t the business interests that oppose this legislation step up and actually say why they oppose it, rather than try to feed the public the pabulum of employee privacy. The simple truth is that employers fear that their employees might actually decide on fair treatment, if given the choice. As a candidate for Nebraska’s first district in 2010, a husband, a father, and a blue-collar worker I support The Employee Free Choice Act and urge those who read this to do the same. Please feel free to click on the links below to send Senator Ben Nelson and Senator Mike Johanns an email. Let them know that you support The Employee Free Choice Act. Let them know that, as a Nebraskan, you expect their “Yes” vote on the legislation.

Originally posted on Matthew Dodd's personal blog http://matthewdodd2010.wordpress.com/

Matthew Dodd for United States Congress 2010

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Location: Lincoln, NE