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Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009 | 2:45 p.m.
Sun Coverage
WASHINGTON -- New polling out today shows little support in Nevada for key provisions of the Employee Free Choice Act, the labor-led legislation that would make it easier for workers to form unions -- an issue that may return to the congressional agenda in the new year.
The poll showed 57 percent of respondents oppose changing the way unions are organized and 64 percent oppose allowing mandatory arbitration to settle organizational disputes between workers and managers, as is proposed under the bill.
The poll also showed more voters would be less likely to support political candidates who support such changes.
The polling was conducted for the Workforce Fairness Institute, an organization that has been vigorously fighting the Employee Free Choice Act all year.
The legislation is also known as “card check” – because it would allow workers to simply sign a card if they want to join a union. It had been the top priority of labor leaders this year.
But the bill stalled as Congress took on other priorities and it seemed unclear if it would have 60 votes needed for passage in the Senate.
Unions prefer the card check method as an alternative to secret ballots because they say managers often drag out elections and intimidate workers. But businesses say the ballots should be used in every case.
Card check is used in most of the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.
Polling of 500 registered voters by Public Opinion Strategies for the Workforce Fairness Institute was conducted Dec. 12-15 in Nevada.
Respondents were split among self-described Democrats, Republicans and Independents, though 53 percent of respondents described themselves as conservative on issues.
The poll also includes information on favorability ratings for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Republican Sen. John Ensign and Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons. But there's not much new there that cannot be summed up in a few words: High unfavorable ratings for all.
Health care reform is also polled, with 50 percent saying they believe the health care reform before Congress is a "bad idea" (and 20 percent having "no opinion").
Check out the full poll here.
Card check is the union answer to using Mafia tactics of peer pressure to get their way.
Card check and no e-verify, Reid's best wet-dream.
Unions have gone way past their prime. It's an antiquated thing that needs to be put out to pasture. I have never been a member of any union and every job I have ever had has paid more and been much better than a union job would ever be. It's time to let go of the socialist b.s. that is taking over things even more so today then in the past. Unions are one of those socialist things. They are not for free enterprise. Why should one have to pay another group in order to work?
RFS you are uneducated and obviously didn't pay attention in school if you were ever there. I'm sorry(NOT), maybe you too are one of those INTERNATIONALS - PC - for ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. lcdmandingonamvet you are a genius, Thank You.
I am for card check! I enjoy my double time, my $40hr, great pensions, annuity and medical insurance. You guys continue with your race to the bottom, your outsourcing of jobs and importing of cheap labor. It's really been working out great for you, huh?
Workers have to start somewhere. If workers don't fight for the right to organize, and hold employers feet to the fire, they get exactly what they have been getting, underpaid and overworked!
Without decent wages and benefits, the middle class will be off limits for most of everyone who works. There also safety violations, that are causing serious injuries and death. The USA is becoming no better than the developing world, when it comes to workers rights.
Unions are under 10% of the work force. This is a travesty, and worth marching in the streets for. When are we as a nation going to get on our hind legs and start fighting these greedy corporations? My guess is maybe never.
We have to bring back industry to the USA. The macro-economic system is in a steep decline and needs to be reorganized. If not, we will see more anarchy and chaos in the streets.
Coalition for the Future American Worker
http://www.americanworker.org/
Card check is a bad idea; it allows the unions and the employer to see your vote. There could be all kinds of real and perceived repercussions for that simple act.
Mandatory arbitration where the arbitrator has the power to negotiate the first contract is also a bad idea. How is the arbitrator supposed to know the financial condition of the employer? In construction, the employers generally have contracts with their clients. If you honestly believe the employer can go to the client and say my employees want to unionize and here's what it's going to cost you, your crazy. The client is going to cancel the contract. Now the employee's can unionize but they won't have a job.
Did they sell it as a "tool" for lowering the unemployment rate?
It probably doesn't matter what "we the people" think about EFCA. The Dems were bought and paid for by the unions - - they expect to get their monies' worth. The Dems will pay off. Management bowing down to the Auto Worker's Union, among other things, resulted in the present sad state of GM and Chrysler. Unions are a business, nothing else. They sell a false promise and collect dues from believing workers. Most workers have caught on to the scam, that's why union membership continues to decline.