Small Business Issues in the Ballot Box: the Employee Free Choice Act

Reader Comments
Back to article

"The Employee Free Choice Act by design creates a true partnership between employer and employee."
In todays small business, the vast majority of which are NOT corporate comglomerates, it is the owner that has the risk. If a company fails, an employee loses their job but the owner potentially loses everything. So I ask...if the Employee Free Choice Act creates a true partnership, then will the employees share the financial loses as well? I think not. All will continue to demand the wages and benefits to which they've become accustomed and will simply move on to their next job while the owner of a failed business is left to pick up the pieces. If that's how this "true partnership" will work, I want no part of it.

RC Pilot of FL 5:59PM November 05, 2008

Duckie! My 20 year old company with 9-11 employees who, work when they want. and now they can become a union and I should be happy? Right now my employee's make more money than I...Any government offical who agrees with this change hates America's small business... I would have to close the doors...it really looks like Obama is working towards this...it stinks.

cclark of ID 5:47PM November 05, 2008

The Employee Free Choice Act is the single most important piece of legislation before Congress since the Emancipation Proclamation! As a mediator of general civil and employment issues I have witnessed how the present predominant "At Will" doctrine has and is failing both employer and employee. This form of employment relationship is applying 19th century doctrine to the 21st century.
The Employee Free Choice Act by design creates a true partnership between employer and employee. In my view, "At Will" doctrine has spawned and reinforces an employment environment that is;
(1) adversarial by creating an "us versus them" employment mindset
(2) emboldens employers to maintain, sustain and perpetuate discriminatory employment practices
(3) monumentally wasteful of monetary resources and public goodwill in needless litigation
I believe that elements of corporate America want to maintain an antiquated and out dated system of employment to preserve the ability to discriminate against certain groups and races. Here is the evidence to support that assertion.
In fiscal year 2007, 37.0% of all (EEOC) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints filed were race discrimination based. 30.1% were sex discrimination based and national origin is 11.4%. The American workplace is comprised of the good, bad and the ugly as any other society in the world.
In my experience as a mediator when two disputing parties reach amicable resolution or a "win-win" they come away with a greater level of understanding and mutual respect for each sides position. Just as the paradigm shift in audio media technology finally forced me to put down my cassette player and learn to use a cd/dvd player, "At Will" employment is another dinosaur whose time has come for a decent burial.

Y. Thomas at You can learn basic employee rights of TN 5:48PM November 04, 2008

"...nonretail businesses with over $50,000 in sales a year..." This includes almost all construction/general contractors. So if you have three employees, they can unionize without a secret ballot.

Bob Saint Louis of MO 2:58PM November 04, 2008

Isn't a secret ballot essential to democracy ?
How can anyone be against secret ballots ?

of OH 12:44PM November 02, 2008

All employers (especially incorporated ones) who have claimed that their internal "contract" with workers is the doctrine of employment at will, that is the RIGHT to fire anyone at any time for ANY reason or NO reason-----deserves this.
Employers have claimed a ridiculous "contractural" overreach since Reagan. It's time for their comeuppance.
25 years overdue, in fact. Go Dems. Go unions.

of 4:59PM November 01, 2008

All the talk about compromise and moderation in Washington makes one wanna puke!! You all are nuts if you think that Democrats and Republicans are going to all of a sudden stop being partisan! It's also note worthy to point out that Senator Obama wouldn't be the first Black American elected President. In fact he'd be the first multi-racial person to be elected President. One side of his family is caucasian you know??? I also expect the Democrats to reach 60 votes in the Senate because Ted Stevens of Alaska got caught with his hands in the cookie jar!

Juice of NV 10:07AM November 01, 2008