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NLRB Elections Violate Basic Standards of Fairness
The National Labor Relations Board's system for union elections is so corrupt that it doesn't remotely resemble the democratic process the term "election" brings to mind, according to a new report from a University of Oregon professor.
"Apart from the use of secret ballots, there is not a single aspect of the NLRB process that does not violate the norms we hold sacred for political elections," Professor Gordon Lafer said. "It is hard to imagine anyone - Republican or Democrat - who could win election under the conditions workers must use to form unions."
"Free And Fair? How Labor Law Fails U.S. Democratic Election Standards," describes the grossly one-sided advantages employers hold in representation elections, from the power to squelch workers' free speech rights on the job to outright threats and firings.
"Every high school civics student knows that elections aren't fair without free speech, equal access to voters and the media, and freedom from voter coercion," said former Congressman David Bonior, Chair of American Rights at Work. "Gordon Lafer's research confirms that the system for union recognition is badly broken and profoundly undemocratic. Any reform of existing labor law must begin with this understanding."
Bonior said the report demonstrates clearly the need for new laws to level the playing field for employees, which is what the Employee Free Choice Act would do. Introduced as S.842 in the Senate and H.R. 1696 in the House, the bill require employers to recognize a union after a majority of workers sign cards authorizing representation. It also would provide for mediation and arbitration of first-contract disputes and strengthen penalties when employers violate organizing law.
A copy of Lafer's report is available at www.americanrightsatwork.org. To learn more about the Employee Free Choice Act, go to www.aflcio.org/voiceatwork.
"Apart from the use of secret ballots, there is not a single aspect of the NLRB process that does not violate the norms we hold sacred for political elections," Professor Gordon Lafer said. "It is hard to imagine anyone - Republican or Democrat - who could win election under the conditions workers must use to form unions."
"Free And Fair? How Labor Law Fails U.S. Democratic Election Standards," describes the grossly one-sided advantages employers hold in representation elections, from the power to squelch workers' free speech rights on the job to outright threats and firings.
"Every high school civics student knows that elections aren't fair without free speech, equal access to voters and the media, and freedom from voter coercion," said former Congressman David Bonior, Chair of American Rights at Work. "Gordon Lafer's research confirms that the system for union recognition is badly broken and profoundly undemocratic. Any reform of existing labor law must begin with this understanding."
Bonior said the report demonstrates clearly the need for new laws to level the playing field for employees, which is what the Employee Free Choice Act would do. Introduced as S.842 in the Senate and H.R. 1696 in the House, the bill require employers to recognize a union after a majority of workers sign cards authorizing representation. It also would provide for mediation and arbitration of first-contract disputes and strengthen penalties when employers violate organizing law.
A copy of Lafer's report is available at www.americanrightsatwork.org. To learn more about the Employee Free Choice Act, go to www.aflcio.org/voiceatwork.