Blogger Conference Call With Mitt Romney
Former Presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney held a conference call today to discuss the Employee Free Choice Act – or as it was more accurately referred, the Employee FORCED Choice Act. Specifically, Governor Romney addressed two major issues with the legislation Democrats in Congress are pushing: Card Check (or the end to secret ballots) and Binding Arbitration.
According to the Governor, if enacted, these measures would result in an increase in union membership of of some 1.5 million people and a loss of 600,000 American jobs. Governor Romney called this proposed legislation an “unprecedented attack on citizens and workers” and nothing more than a way for union bosses and Democrat politicians to line their own pockets, while claiming it is in the name of the average worker.
The issue of Card Check is the component of the legislation that has been the main point of focus for many. And Governor Romney reiterated that this would take away worker’s rights and would lead directly to intimidation by unions to force workers to unionize. In his home state of Massachusetts this has already occurred where unions pressured teachers in a charter school to unionize (Governor Romney vetoed Card Check legislation but it was signed into law by his successor).
However, Governor Romney was just as, if not more so, concerned about the issue of Binding Arbitration. This would essentially be a power grab by the federal government, allowing a government appointed arbitrator to set the contract terms between the union and the business owner.
Specifically, the federal government would be forced to intervene in the negotiating process if, after 90 days, no agreement was reached. Next, a 30 day mediation period would ensue. If the mediation period is unsuccessful, the government arbitrator would then be empowered to set the terms of the contract. This means a government arbitrator would mandate things like wages, work rules, hours, and health benefits.
Such a scenario takes away any incentive for the union to bargain in good faith. The unions simply could wait the process out and allow the government arbitrator to set terms in their favor.
The Governor called the impact of these 2 measures “calamitous” for our economy both in the short term and in the long term. He likened these rules to “a black cloud” over business owners and entrepreneurs who would not take the risks to grow their businesses (or start them at all) and create the jobs our economy needs. In the long term, Governor Romney said this will simply result in higher unemployment for the country.
So, what can we do to fight this? The Governor urged all of us to start contacting our legislators, writing letters to editorial boards and calling talk radio programs to get the word out. Nothing less than our economic freedom and prosperity is at stake if this legislation passes.
