[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 10, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H3111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               CARD CHECK

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, there is an effort underway in Washington to 
take away the right of the secret ballot vote from American workers.
  Colleagues on the other side of the aisle will introduce today a bill 
misnamed Employee Free Choice Act, also called the Card Check bill.
  This is a bill that would allow for the establishment of a union not 
by secret ballot vote, but simply if the majority of employees at a 
company sign a card lending their support. This process, called ``card 
check,'' opens employees up to coercion and intimidation.
  The secret ballot is a fundamental principle of American democracy. 
If individuals want to join a union, they are entitled to that right. 
They can show their support with their vote. But if workers do not want 
to pay union dollars to be used to advance a political agenda they 
disagree with, they should also be afforded the same right, to cast 
their vote free of coercion and intimidation in a secret ballot 
election.
  Card check is an assault on the principles of our Nation and would be 
a job killer during a time when we cannot afford to lose more jobs.

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