North Dakota is a right to work state, meaning that the citizens here decided a long time ago that workers should be absolutely free to choose when it comes to joining unions. But nationally the labor unions - driven by desperation over declining union enrollment - are trying to take away the balloting process from the labor organizing process.
Currently, in order for a labor force to organize, a secret ballot is held. Workers vote either for or against organizing, and the vote outcome determines whether or not the workers unionize (except in a right to work state where workers can decline union membership even if the work force votes to organize). The Employee Free Choice Act, also known as “card check,” would remove the balloting. In order to organize, all a union would have to do is get signed cards consenting to organizing from a majority of the workers. No secret ballot. No voting.
Clearly, this is problematic in that unions could use intimidation to sway workers who aren’t protected by a secret ballot.
Once Obama is in the White House and Democrats seat a larger majority in Congress the unions will be pushing card check. The question is, will members of Congress from right to work states like Senators Conrad and Dorgan vote with their constituencies or with their big-labor backers?
It’s a question asked by Matt Lewis at TownHall.com today, and I think it’s a good one.
North Dakotans should contact Dorgan and Conrad (and Earl Pomeroy too!) and ask them how they’re going to vote. Here is their contact information:
DC Address: The Honorable Kent Conrad
United States Senate
530 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3403
DC Phone: 202-224-2043
DC Fax: 202-224-7776
Electronic Correspondence: https://conrad.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm
DC Address: The Honorable Byron L. Dorgan
United States Senate
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3405
DC Phone: 202-224-2551
DC Fax: 202-224-1193
Electronic Correspondence: senator@dorgan.senate.gov
DC Address: The Honorable Earl Pomeroy
United States House of Representatives
1501 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3401
DC Phone: 202-225-2611
DC Fax: 202-226-0893
Electronic Correspondence: http://www.house.gov/formpomeroy/zipauth.htm