Forget the secret ballot; note the secret agenda

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ^ | 16 may 09 | Patrick McIlheran

[rellimpank]

The Employee Free Choice Act, which would take away employees’ free choice about whether to join a union, has brighter prospects now that Arlen Specter is in the mood to compromise.

This is wretched news, of course, because secret ballots matter (I'll point out why in Sunday's Journal Sentinel) and because the bill also imposes binding arbitration on company-union negotiations. As George McGovern recently put it, this is lunacy.

Diana Furchgott-Roth points out that Specter’s compromise might well be to give way on the secret ballot – unions would have to swallow not winning 100% of the time – but include the arbitration. This still works from the union standpoint.

It rescues them from insolvency, says the former Department of Labor chief economist. Here’s how:

“Failing pension plans are a major problem for unions. Unions create these multiemployer, collectively-bargained plans in order to provide retirement income for workers in several different places of employment. This requires the union, the sponsor of the plan, to negotiate with each employer to join and contribute to the fund.”

How bad off are the union pension funds? SEIU has only three-quarters the money it’s promised to beneficiaries. The Sheet Metal Workers Union has 42%. Non-union plans are much better off.

[ChrisInAR]

Before I ask my question, let me make it clear that I OPPOSE forced unionization & I despise the socialist agendas that unions wish to bring about...but I personally have no problem w/ my vote not being secret, & I'm not embarrassed to let my co-workers (or anyone else) know that I would vote "NO" to forming a union where I work.

STUPID QUESTION: why should I care about my vote not being secret? Why should it bother me if everyone knows how I voted?

[rellimpank]

---because if , for example, there are three guys averaging 6'4",weighing 300 pounds and wearing size 56 coats watching you vote, you will will vote the way the trio tells you to---

[ChrisInAR]

If we worry about that, then maybe we should get rid of campaign posters, buttons, bumper stickers, etc. & not let anyone know where we stand on the issues.

I don’t think we should cower in the face of violent threats.

[craftywidget]

I’m pretty sure the secret ballot is not considered “cowering”. It’s more like the foundation of any democratic form of government or organization. Without it, it is just too easy to single people out for retribution for voting the “wrong way”.
People are attacked and their property damaged or destroyed for displaying campaign posters, buttons, and bumper stickers, you know. I’d rather not see that extend to the voting public at large.