Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Big Win for Secret Ballot

From the AP: Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a bill that would allow labor unions to organize workplaces without a secret ballot election. Democrats were unable to get the 60 votes needed to force consideration of the Employee Free Choice Act, ending organized labor's chance to win its top legislative priority from Congress.

This is a key victory. This was all about the Democratic Congress’s war on prosperity. They were trying to somehow resurrect a growing union movement by abolishing the secret ballot. It’s a loser. So we’re glad the GOP won this battle.

Former GE CEO Jack Welch told me this thing would set U.S. competitiveness back 30 years with outsized benefit plans, featherbedding, work stoppages and other anti-growth, anti-productivity measures.

Incidentally, union membership in the private sector has plummeted to around 7 percent of the workforce. That tells you something.

Of course, union organizers and the Dems aren’t going to throw in the towel on this thing. They’re determined to pass this bill.

But, at least for now, we can breath a sigh of relief.