The financial crash has many states swimming in red ink and efforts to rein in spending are emerging across the country.  In an effort to reduce costs, many states are addressing the costs associated with public sector unions, who have used politicians to extract lucrative retirement and benefits packages that leave taxpayers holding the bag.  At the same time, private sector unions have been pushing to expand their power, despite the fact that union membership represents a diminishing proportion of the workforce.  For example, unions pressured the National Labor Relations Board to penalize a private corporation—Boeing—for opting to expand in a right to work state.  In addition “card check” legislation  would eliminate current use of the secret ballot for workers voting on whether or not form a union, which threatens privacy protections and opens the workplace to increased intimidation and corruption.  Card Check quite literally means that workers deciding upon union representation will not be able to make their decision privately, free from outside influence.  Unions have the right to represent their membership, but laws should not be used to artificially strengthen their ability to negotiate.