News Room
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 2, 2009 CONTACT:
Wendy Block
Director of Health Policy & Human Resources
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
(517) 371-7678 (office)
(517) 927-5135 (cell) MICHIGAN'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
SHOULD RETHINK THEIR SUPPORT OF UN-DEMOCRATIC 'CARD CHECK' LEGISLATION, SAYS
MICHIGAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today called
on Democrats in Michigan’s Congressional Delegation to rethink their support of
the deceptively-named Employee Free Choice Act, better known as the Card Check
legislation.
“Now is not the time to enact legislation that will make it
easier for union bosses to organize workplaces by eliminating secret-ballot
elections and requiring binding arbitration of contract disputes,” said Wendy
Block, Director of Health Policy and Human Resources for the Michigan Chamber.
“Despite its nice-sounding name, the Employee Free Choice Act will actually
deprive job providers and workers of their democratic rights.”
“This legislation is proposed in the name of ‘fixing’ our
nation’s labor laws, but it’s actually little more than political payback for
union bosses who want an unfair advantage in organizing activities,” noted Jim
Holcomb, Vice President of Business Advocacy and Associate General Counsel for
the Michigan Chamber. “Those serving in Congress who care more about the health
of our economy than politics should do everything in their power to prevent
passage of this harmful legislation.”
“This is a moment of truth for our lawmakers in Washington
DC,” Block said. “There are few legislative proposals that would be more
damaging than the card check legislation, which is in violation of our nation’s
Democratic principles and seeks to deny every American of their right to a
private ballot in union organizing elections in the workplace.”
“It’s hard to believe that this legislation is a
priority in Congress as our nation’s economy continues to struggle,” said
Holcomb.
“Congress needs a wake-up call and to refocus their efforts on
putting forward policies that will encourage economic growth, rather than
inhibit it,” Holcomb concluded.
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 50th year
as a statewide business organization and represents about 7,100 employers, trade
associations and local chambers of commerce. The Michigan Chamber was
established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan’s job providers in the
legislative, political and legal process. It is only one of four state chambers
of commerce in the nation accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
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