Employee Free Choice Act – Ron Paul and I Disagree

In late March, I received the following response from Congressman Ron Paul to my request to support the EFCA:

Dear Mr. Hailey:

Thank you for contacting my office regarding my position on collective bargaining. Please be assured, I do support the right of all Americans to join the collective bargainingorganizations of their choice. However, the federal government has no constitutional authority to dictate to employers the circumstances under which their employees can, and cannot, join a union. Furthermore, legislation such as the Employee Free Choice Act forces all workers to accept union representation even if they do not want union representation. Therefore, I could not support the Employee Free Choice Act.

Thank you again for contacting my office. Please feel free to do so in the future with any other questions, comments, or suggestions.

Sincerely,

Ron Paul

I responded with the following:

Congressman Paul,

As you know, a key element of our American democracy and society is checks and balances. Checks and balances are critical for protecting citizens from abuse by some institutions and some individuals who have let excessive wealth and power rob them of their ability to empathize as they strive to maximize self gain.

My experience as an engineer for the aerospace industry in the NASA area and as a union rep for tens years has proved to me that businesses can abuse their power over employees and that it is the responsibility of the government to empower employees so they can protect themselves against such abuse.

The way the law works now it leaves the election up to the company. They always decide for it, even if the ‘show of interest’ cards submitted represents a majority of a class of employees. This gives management the upper hand in the process and reduces the employee’s ability to organize against abuse.

The current law reduces check and balances and must be changed to rebuild the check and balance of the original, post depression, law. If necessary the government must step in to rewrite the laws they already have on the books.

This country is not about me. It’s about we the people and we need checks and balances over those who abuse their powers.

We the people are ultimate check and balance on the government and we asked for change last November. Were you listening to what the nation said?

P.S.   The EFCA does not, as you state, force “all workers to accept union representation even if they do not want union representation.”    This happens now with every election since a 100% vote for representation is highly unlikely.  

Using your logic, you should be opposed to your own election to Congress, since you represent me even though I didn’t choose you.