WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Restaurant Association has expressed disappointment following House passage of H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act, sponsored by Rep. George Miller, D-Calif.
NRA officials say they oppose the legislation because it would take away an employee's right to a federally-supervised secret-ballot process when deciding whether to join a union. It replaces secret ballots with a so-called "card-check" system that lets a union organize if a majority of workers sign a card made public to employers, the union organizers and co-workers.
Under the current system, employers have the option to demand an election in order to inform employees of management's views on unionization.
"We are deeply disappointed in the Members of Congress who voted for this bill," said Peter Kilgore, the association's acting interim president and chief executive officer. "Without holding a full committee hearing, the House rushed through this legislation in a matter of weeks without offering an opportunity for a comprehensive, fair debate.
