The Employee Free Choice Act -- known as the "card check" bill pending in Congress -- calls for an easier system to allow employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, but some workers say that the bill is giving unions the green light to use aggressive tactics to get them to sign up.
Under the bill, employees can request blank cards from an existing unions and request signatures on the card from employees. The legislation will allow companies to hold secret ballot elections to decide on unionization if 30 percent of employees sign the cards.
Though the bill is still pending, some companies like the Dana Corporation Auto Parts plant in Albion, Ind., have already begun using the card check process.
Union organizers came to the plant two years ago to ask employees to join the United Auto Workers and sign a card -- an effort that was permitted because the company signed a neutrality agreement with the union.
But accusations about the UAW's aggressive campaign to get signatures has ignited fury among plant workers, some of whom claim they were hassled, intimidated and harassed by union organizers until they signed the card.
Some workers allege union organizers followed them to their cars -- and even showed up at their homes demanding a signature.
"We're here in a little town and we're a a plant of 50 some people -- you know the last thing you need is to have the union coming to your door saying I want your name," Dana employee Jamie Oliver told FOX News.
Some plant employees claimed the card check process created divisiveness at work, causing some employees to be threatened by coworkers who had wanted the union.
The UAW declined to give comment to FOX News on the employees' complaints.
The latest version of the Employee Free Choice Act was introduced to both chambers of Congress on March 10, 2009. - FOX News
No comments:
Post a Comment