The House Committee on Education and Workforce has proposed efforts to help Congress reform the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959. In new comments for the record, Labor Policy Analyst Emmet Bowling makes the case that secret ballot elections, rather than “card check” certifications, help keep workers free from pressure and intimidation tactics used by unions.

An excerpt:

A worker’s decision to be represented by a union is not one to be taken lightly, as it has ramifications not only on an employee’s ability to determine the terms and conditions of his or her employment, but also on broader social, political, or policy positions that may be taken by the union. Therefore, it is important that this vote be done in a manner that most accurately reflects the true wishes of each individual worker.

The only way to ensure that each and every vote cast by workers represents their true opinions is to require that secret ballot elections be held to ratify collective bargaining agreements. No other method of voting, such as card checks, can best ensure that each vote is an accurate representation of each worker’s values.

Read the analysis.