Becker’s NLRB forces unionization through administrative action

For small business owners, who have spent the last three years fighting passage of the job-killing Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), a new threat looms: the NLRB putting in place the main components of the legislation administratively.  Union bosses have stated they expect as much from Becker, and his early performance demonstrates he is more than willing to comply.

EFCA’s goal is to ensure more unionized workplaces and therefore more dues-paying members for Big Labor bosses.  The bill would remove the right of workers to a secret ballot in union voting, forcing them to declare their support or opposition publicly on signed cards.  This method, often called “card check,” would expose workers to intimidation at the hands of labor bosses.

Another devastating aspect of EFCA is the binding arbitration clause, which would inject a government bureaucrat into employee-employer contract negotiations.  In effect, EFCA would not only strip workers of their right to vote freely on the formation of a collective bargaining unit, it would strip them of their right to negotiate contracts affecting their livelihoods.

It is becoming increasing clear that the real danger of forced unionization now lies with the unelected members of the NLRB, who could easily bypass Congress and enact components of the job-killing EFCA legislation on their own.  This concentrated power in the hands of people like Craig Becker is a threat to workers’ rights.

And while Becker may not think people are watching, he is sorely mistaken.  In fact, Becker and the other NLRB members should understand that the American people are paying close attention and will not look kindly upon those who put barriers before our nation’s job creators all in an effort to empower and enrich union bosses, while advancing their job-killing policies.

Katie Gage is the executive director of the Workforce Fairness Institute.