Future Looking Dim for the American Worker

Now that the presidential elections are over everyone is speculating over what the future holds for the United States. One thing to start considering is reappearance of the Employee Free Choice Act of 2007. After its failure to pass in the Senate in June 2007 because Democrats did not have the 60 votes to pass it, the new Senate looks to be in their favor. The new Senate consists of 57 Democrats, 40 Republicans, and 3 votes soon to be decided in Minnesota, Alaska, and Georgia. Another election altering the future for the Employee Free Choice Act’s “card check” is the support from the President-elect, Barack Obama.

Even if EFCA had passed in both houses many were aware of President Bush’s intention to veto the bill. In 2009, however, we will have a President who is an ardent supporter of card check and a larger Democratic majority to push it through the Senate. Barack Obama will most definitely support any legislation that supports further unionization in the workplace due to the large support he received from unions in his various campaigns for public office. A problem that the president-elect will have to face with this card check legislation, however, is that alongside his support of unions, his campaign promised to help small business owners. Almost always, the interests of small businesses and unions clash. Americans need to consider, which group will Barack Obama keep his promises to?

During a recession, it is hard enough for small business owners to worry about staying afloat let alone wondering if they can afford the looming problems that streamlined unionization brings. Card check is a way for union representatives to pressure and coerce their co-workers into union authorization by signing a card which previously merely designated only possible interest in joining a union. Now once a union receives a majority of cards signed it is immediately authorized, often times with half of the workforce unaware of any union activity in the first place. Nor can workers request a private election.

At this point, the employer must recognize the union and deal with all that entails including paying for higher wages or being fined by the federal government. If this were a relatively small business, small changes like a union could be devastating and the straw that breaks the camel’s back. This is an example of how unions and small businesses don’t go hand in hand and there is little reason to believe that Barack Obama will be able to change that.

So at the end of the day, which friends will Barack Obama keep his promises to: big labor unions or small business? History has proven his allegiance to the former and we can only hope he will defy it.