WORKFORCE FAIRNESS INSTITUTE

Washington, D.C. (June 23, 2009) – The Workforce Fairness Institute (WFI) today responded to a report issued by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) concerning health care stating, “ninety-seven percent say reform is urgent.”
 
“Findings in the health care report issued today by the AFL-CIO serve to completely disqualify arguments made by union bosses concerning the Employee ‘Forced’ Choice Act.  The AFL-CIO report concedes Americans are focused on dealing with major issues and challenges confronting the nation – like health care and the economy – not special-interest legislation rewarding Big Labor at the expense of workers,” said Katie Packer, executive director of the Workforce Fairness Institute.  “Why would Congress dedicate time and energy to an issue that would result in massive job loss and unemployment, when the American people’s priorities are addressing health care and getting people back to work?”
 
A bill to eliminate secret ballot election in the workplace is currently making its way through Congress. Something like this could never happen, right? Actually, it could. Under the so-called “Employee Free Choice Act,” workers, in violation of our Democratic principles, would be denied their American right to a private ballot in union organizing elections in the workplace. Workers would be forced to publicly state their vote -- for everyone to see.  This is more appropriately called the FORCED CHOICE ACT and would fundamentally change the rights of employees in the workplace … it would force unions on them; force contracts on them and force payment of dues on them.

The Workforce Fairness Institute is an organization committed to educating voters, employers, employees and citizens about issues affecting the workplace. To learn more, please visit: http://www.workforcefairness.com.
 
To schedule an interview with a Workforce Fairness Institute representative, please contact Kelly Oliver (ext. 140) or Mary Beth Hutchins (ext. 105) at (703) 683-5004.
 
 
BACKGROUND:
 
AFL-CIO Issues Report Concerning “Urgent” Need For Health Care Reform:
 
“Health care reform is urgent.  The survey respondents nearly universally agree that health care reform is urgent. Ninety-seven percent say reform is urgent.” (Report, “2009 Health Care For America Survey [p. 18],” American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), 6/23/09)
 
Economic Study Concludes Jobs Lost If Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) Becomes Law:
 
“Today, we learn that an independent quantitative analysis of the economic consequences concludes that millions of jobs would be lost if Card Check became law … Using data from Canada’s experience with a Card Check system, economist Dr. Anne Layne-Farrar’s assessment of the consequences of adopting the same system in the U.S. found that union membership would increase, but so would unemployment.  Said Layne-Farrar: ‘For every three percentage points gained in union membership through card checks and mandatory arbitration, the following year’s unemployment rate is predicted to increase by one percentage point and job creation is predicted to fall by around 1.5 million jobs.’” (“Quantitative Study Finds Card Check Would Cost Millions Of Jobs,” Examiner, 3/5/09)
 
For more information on the economic study, go to: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1353305