CNN "Fact Checker" Gets It Wrong on Employee Free Choice

The Employee Free Choice Act would not take away workers' right to continue to organize by way of a traditional secret-ballot election, but you wouldn't know it from most of what is being said by networks or pundits covering the election campaign.

Last week, on "Fact Check from CNN's Truth Squad," CNN reporter Alina Cho stated that John McCain was correct when he charged that Obama wants to "take away" workers' right to a traditional secret-ballot election. Go here for the report.

Yet when CNN was contacted about the error by the workers' rights organization, American Rights at Work, a network spokesperson said they stood by the report and refused to issue a correction.

CNN did see fit to correct another error that it made in its report – that a "majority" of workers currently have to sign authorization cards to petition for a union election. In fact, it takes only a 30 percent showing of interest under provisions of the National Labor Relations Act.  And that option would remain in the law after passage of Employee Free Choice.   The new legislation would give workers an option to seek immediate recognition based on union authorization by a majority of workers, and also would provide for first-contract arbitration and tougher penalties on employers for labor law violations.

"We can't stand by and allow fear tactics and misinformation about Employee Free Choice to determine the outcome of this critical legislation," said CWA President Larry Cohen. "In this age of sound bites, a false charge can eventually become true if it remains unchallenged."

We need to flood CNN with the facts about Employee Free Choice and get the network to issue a correction. E-mail your complaint to CNN here.