Small Businesses and Community Leaders Blitz Capitol Hill in Opposition to Card Check Bill

As Legislation is Introduced, U.S. Chamber Leads Nearly 200 Members to Speak Out Against a Special-Interest Payback

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today led nearly 200 local business and community leaders from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Louisiana, and Nebraska to Capitol Hill to meet with their senators and representatives and voice opposition to legislation that would effectively eliminate workers' right to a private ballot election in union organizing drives.

The misnamed-Employee Free Choice Act, commonly known as card check, was introduced in the House today with 223 original co-sponsors, 7 fewer than when the bill hit the House floor in 2007 despite expanded majorities supposedly sympathetic to the bill. The bill also hit the Senate with 40 co-sponsors, 7 fewer than in 2007.

"In the midst of this economic crisis, small business owners are flocking to Capitol Hill because they know card check must be defeated," said Steven Law, the U.S. Chamber's chief legal officer and general counsel. "These depressed co-sponsorship numbers show that lawmakers aren't just getting cold feet on card check – they're getting frostbite."

Aside from effectively stripping workers of a private vote, the bill would also grant government arbitrators sweeping new powers to dictate private sector wages and working conditions. The legislation would also impose one-sided penalties on employers, but not unions, for misconduct during union organizing drives.

"We are pleased this legislation has finally been introduced so we can put a stake through its heart," said Randel Johnson, the U.S. Chamber's vice president of Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits. "The more policymakers understand the bill the better our chances to defeat it. We look forward to the debate."

This week, the Chamber's Workforce Freedom Airlift will bring small business owners and community leaders to Washington, D.C. in the first of a series of fly-ins. In the coming weeks, delegations from Connecticut, Colorado, Alaska, Florida, North Carolina, and North Dakota will follow.

The campaign also includes print and radio advertisements in various states and inside the Beltway. The Chamber's online "Virtual March on Washington" allows those unable to come to Capitol Hill the ability to join the march and voice opposition to the bill by sending an email directly to their lawmakers. Currently, over 13,000 activists are participating in the march through the Web site www.savethesecretballot.com.

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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