DaytonDailyNews.com

Free Choice Act a bad idea

Re "Would country be better off if 'card check' passes?," Dec. 26: I strongly disagree with Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola's commentary advocating for the euphemistically named Employee Free Choice Act. His arguments are misleading at best and purposely deceptive at worst.

Two of his points deserve rebuttal.

First, Rugola argued that, just like the federal bailout of mismanaged investment banks, big labor could use a federal handout in the form of laws making it easier for unions to take over nonunion companies. He is flat-out wrong. The best way to improve the economy is not to force the creation of more union shops, but to give entrepreneurs the freedom to be successful.

A major reason the big three automakers recently requested a federal bailout was because of ill-conceived labor agreements forced by greedy and shortsighted union bosses.

Second, he said the measure is needed because companies intimidate workers who seek to organize. The measure actually gives unions the ability to strong-arm employees into paying dues because it eliminates their secret ballot. You can't protect workers from intimidation by eliminating their anonymity. Just the opposite will happen.

This law would chase away jobs and intimidate workers. It's a bad idea.

Tom Young

Washington Twp.

Workers need Free Choice Act

Re the commentary by Phillip Parker, president and CEO of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, in the Dayton Daily News concerning the Employee Free Choice Act: Parker is off base and a part of the national chamber's $200 million propaganda machine.

Our present labor law is more than 75 years old, outdated and manipulated by anti-union law firms.

Under the present system, companies are free to have closed-door meetings with workers, threaten workers, and threaten to close workplaces and move their work. Companies can manipulate the legal system and fire union sympathizers.

The Employee Free Choice Act will allow workers to form a union when a majority signs cards indicating that's what they desire.

Majority card sign-up for a union does not take the right to vote away from workers; it expedites the procedure and eliminates company stall tactics, intimidation and firing of union sympathizers.

It would require arbitration to end corporate foot-dragging when workers try to get a real first contract.

National contracts are negotiated in less than 120 days. This provision brings both parties to the table in a good faith effort to reach a fair contract and eliminates the need for anti-union lawyers.

Unions built America, and with the help of the Obama administration, we will rebuild America again.

Wesley Wells

Dayton

Mr. Wells is executive director of the Dayton, Miami Valley AFL-CIO.

Turner anti-Ledbetter vote was shameful

I think it is disgraceful that U.S. Rep. Mike Turner voted against the Ledbetter Pay Discrimination Law. This law gives women the ability to take their employer to court if they are not receiving the same pay as men who are doing the same job. Turner has demonstrated again that his message to the women of his district is "drop dead. Corporate profits are more important than your livelihood."

Thank God the American people have made Republicans irrelevant, and the law has been passed. We need to keep in mind Turner's actions come Election Day.

John Murphy

Kettering