Senate Republicans Fight to Protect Employee Voting Rights
Maine Democrats Attempting to Push US Congress to Eliminate Workers’ Right to Secret Ballots

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2007

AUGUSTA – Senate Republicans are fighting to block the Democratic controlled Maine Legislature from sending a message to the United States Congress in favor of a bill to curtail the voting rights of workers nation-wide.

A resolve before the Maine Legislature would encourage the US Congress to support the “Employee Free Choice Act,” which would eliminate the secret ballot process established to authorize union organization.  Workers in an industry presented with the option to unionize currently have the right to cast their ballot in secrecy, without union or management designates having the ability to influence those workers’ votes in any way.  This unionization process has been protected by the National Labor Relations Board, which devotes time and resources to preserving the sanctity of the secret ballot process.  The bill before Congress would eliminate the secrecy involved in that voting process, leaving workers vulnerable to coercion by union officials or management with a vested interest either for or against the establishment of a union.

Senate Republicans have expressed tremendous concern with the bill before Congress, and do not believe sending a message encouraging Congress to eliminate the right to a secrete vote best serves the interests of Maine’s workers.  Any attack on the secret ballot process, which has been enshrined in the Democratic system of government, opens the door for retribution or rewards from union officials or management based on a vote.

Senate Republican Leader Carol Weston, of Montville, is surprised and disturbed by the Democrats’ attempts to strong arm Congress into approving the anti-workers’ rights bill.  “I’m really at a loss,” the Senator said.  “The Democrats paint themselves as the party to protect workers across the country, but here we have Maine Democrats injecting themselves into a federal debate to attack workers’ established and protected rights.  The Senate Republicans want no part of the Democrats’ message, and will actively work against it.  Secret ballots are far too important to the unionizing process to eliminate with one fell swoop.  I think it’s ridiculous for legislators elected by a secret ballot to work towards eliminating that process for others.” 

CONTACT:

William Thompson                    287-1505 (o)
Communications Director, Senate Republican Office

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