U.S. Chamber Ad Exposes Union Intimidation

October 21, 2008

U.S. Chamber Ad Exposes Union Intimidation

Underscores the Need to Protect Secret Ballot Elections

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched a nationwide television ad today that exposes the truth about the misnamed "Employee Free Choice Act" and visually depicts the intimidation workers would feel if they lose their rights to vote in a secret ballot election.

The ad shows actual footage of union official Bill Londrigan of the Kentucky AFL-CIO shoving and threatening a cameraman. The ad states: "Today the unions are pressuring Congress to pass the Card Check bill. They want to deny you a private ballot, so union bosses like Bill can know how you vote in union elections."

"If Card Check passes, Bill the Union Boss will replace Joe the Plumber as the new influencer of elections," said the U.S. Chamber's Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel Steven J. Law. "Workers deserve to be protected from intimidation tactics and that's why they need a private vote."

The new issue ads are part of the U.S. Chamber's Workforce Freedom Initiative, a national grassroots advocacy campaign to stop the "Employee Free Choice Act" or "Card Check" bill, which would effectively deny workers a private vote on whether to form a union. The ads underscore the intimidation and pressure many workers will face if Card Check passes and union operatives can force employees to publicly sign cards supporting unionization.

In recent weeks, the Chamber has run ads in several states to educate citizens on Card Check, including ads urging Al Franken in Minnesota, Jeff Merkley in Oregon and Congressman Mark Udall in Colorado to protect workers' private vote.

The ad is available online at: www.chamberpost.com/card_check

To view the ad released this week and other Chamber ads on Card Check, and to read more about the Chamber's Workforce Freedom Initiative, click: www.uschamber.com/wfi [this seems redundant]

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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