Law would streamline unionization process

Law would streamline unionization process

EDITOR:

A letter from the president of a Hubbard company in last Friday’s Vindicator stated that the Employee Free Choice Act is being proposed by “labor unions in Congress.” The last time I checked there are no labor unions in Congress. Congress is made up of individuals elected by a majority of the people in their district with the purpose of representing the will of the people, not the will of business, which has occurred for far too many years.

The idea of a “secret ballot election” as established under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1938 has long since been undermined by employers and legal firms whose sole purpose is to remove the employees “free choice” as to whether they wanted to be represented by a union or not. In today’s labor climate employees are terminated, threatened with their jobs and in some cases assaulted, because they want a better life for themselves and their family. Under the current NLRA, employers receive little or no penalty for violating the Act.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) created by the NLRA currently oversees and directs elections within a company. Under the Employee Free Choice Act the NLRB would continue to have the authority to verify and authenticate the signed cards before a union would become the exclusive bargaining representative of the company. Employees would still have the ability to withdraw their signed authorization cards at any time prior to the filing for the representation of a union with the NLRB.

Federal mediators are assigned to cover a specific geographical area. These mediators are often selected because of their knowledge and experience in negotiating contracts in their respective jurisdictions. Mediators are seldom called in during the beginning of negotiations. Most often mediators are used when the two parties cannot reach an agreement on a specific item.

Why is a secret ballot election a good method for the election of public officials but not unions? Simple, neither party in a public election has the ability to ruin the livelihood of the voter. Employers have the ability to drag out an election for months or years. During that time the employer can exercise his authority to “starve” the employees out. Employers will often violate the laws in order to keep the union out. They will threaten employees with loss of job, reduced hours and/or benefits, and in some cases plant closing or relocations. If those threats don’t work, employers will often resort to terminating known union supports to discourage or halt any further attempt by the employees to organize.

Therefore, I would ask my fellow citizens to end the years of discrimination against hard working men and women of Eastern Ohio, and contact our U.S. senators and representatives and tell them to support the Free Choice Act.

MICHAEL LOVRINOFF

Canfield

Dayton visitor enjoyed everything about fight night

EDITOR:

I hope this is already clear to everyone there in the Mahoning Valley, but you all hit a wonderful home run Saturday. My friend and I travelled from Dayton for the fight, and we had a perfect evening.

From dinner and extraordinary graciousness at the Youngstown Club, to a good look around a great downtown, to conversations with proud and courteous locals, to a great fight, watching a humble champion in a terrific venue.

Thanks Youngstown. We were all proud to be part of you on your big night. There will be many more in the future no doubt.

GARY J. LEPPLA

Dayton