I am writing today to express my strong and unequivocal opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). 

You and I share a common goal of seeing our economy thrive in Nevada so that we can create good jobs, while diversifying and strengthening our workforce.  Passage of EFCA would severely undermine any and all efforts to revitalize our already recession-battered economy.  Without question, this legislation will harm business owners – small and large – as we seek to regain our economic footing and begin hiring again. 

There are numerous reasons to oppose this misguided legislation. First, under EFCA, the government will take away employee privacy and choice and replace it with worker intimidation and harassment.  It literally strips the rights of employees to cast secret ballots when deciding whether to unionize or not, and forces any business into a union contract if and when an open-ended vote leads to 50 percent plus-one vote for unionization.  For good reason, when Americans vote for elected leaders, they are afforded rights to cast their votes privately.  So, why should it be any different when casting votes on whether to unionize in the workforce?  Whether workers choose to join a union or not, they should be allowed to make that choice privately, without intimidation from a union or their employer. 

  Worse yet, this legislation will force businesses to reveal their confidential plans and operations over to government bureaucrats through mandated, binding arbitration.  Further, EFCA will strip employees from being able to directly address their supervisors and managers when seeking to resolve internal disputes.  All future personnel matters – under EFCA – will be taken out of the hands of supervisors and employees and placed into the hands of union leaders and bureaucrats – costing businesses and employees valuable time and money.   

It is simply un-American to give federal arbitrators the unilateral power to set wages, benefits and workplace rules.  It is also un-American to take away a worker’s right to a secret ballot.  Proposals like the Employee Free Choice Act harm our ability to start a company and run it as I see fit – under the already numerous, existing federal, state and local laws and regulations.  In fact, this legislation will cause significant, irreparable harm to the very people its supporters purport to help. 

It is my sincere hope that you will vote against this harmful, job-killing legislation.  Please protect both Nevada’s job providers and our employees by voting NO on the Employee Free Choice Act.  Your written response is appreciated.