Fact or Fiction? We need Card Check to make it easier for workers to join unions.
A: Fiction. The fact is Unions have won more than half of all elections in the last 11 years, with a win rate topping more than 60 percent in recent years.
More: According to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), unions won two out of every three secret ballot elections conducted by NLRB in the first half of 2008. And according to U.S. Department of Labor data, overall union membership grew slightly in 2007 and 2008, with more than 428,000 workers becoming unionized in 2008 alone.
Fact or Fiction? Secret ballot elections take too long and delays of months and years are common.
A: Fiction. The fact is, According to NLRB, the average election is held within 39 days of the filing of the petition.
More: Overall, 95 percent of all initial union elections are held within 56 days.
Fact or Fiction? Some employers illegally fire pro-union employees in 25 to 30 percent of all union organizing drives.
A: Fiction. The fact is, data from the National Labor Relations Board shows that employees are illegally fired in 1.6 percent of organizing drives.
More: If the NLRB finds evidence of illegal firings, it has the power to order the employee reinstated with back pay and order the employer to recognize and bargain with the union, even if the union lost the election.
Fact or Fiction? Card Check will not take away workers' right to a secret ballot.
A: Fiction. The fact is, EFCA states that once enough workers (50 percent plus one) have signed authorization cards, NLRB "shall not direct an election but shall certify" the union. Those words clearly mean that a secret ballot election would be prohibited by Card Check, no matter how many workers actually want one.