Did a Maryland Congressional Candidate Lie about his Support of Card Check?
At a candidate debate last night at Frederick Community College, Democrat nominee for Congress in Maryland’s 6th district, John Delaney, apparently contradicted himself on the issue of “Card Check.” Delaney emphatically stated that he believes employees deserve a secret ballot when deciding whether to unionize at their workplace. However, Delaney’s answers on an AFL-CIO questionnaire leaked earlier this year indicate that he is a supporter of the Card Check law otherwise known by it’s Orwellian title: “The Employee Free Choice Act.” Opponents of this legislation argue that it allows unions to eliminate secret ballots which would inevitably lead to intimidation and coercion of those employees voting against organizing.
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce:
Under the existing law today, workers have a chance to vote for or against unionization in a private-ballot election that is federally supervised. Under Card Check, if more than 50% of workers at a facility sign a card, the government would have to certify the union, and a private ballot election would be prohibited–even if workers want one.
By forcing workers to sign a card in public–instead of vote in private–Card Check opens the door to intimidation and coercion. Over 70% of voters agree that a private election is better than card check.
From Delaney’s AFL-CIO questionnaire:
If elected, would you co-sponsor and vote for the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 1409 and S. 1560in the 111th Congress), a bill that would require employers to honor their workers’ decision to join a union after a majority of them signed a union authorization card or petition; establish first contract mediation and arbitration; and create stronger penalties for employers who interfere with, coerce or fire workers for attempting to join a union?
YES. The Employee Free Choice Act presents a historic opportunity to strengthen our unions and, mostimportantly, to save our middle class. Our country must act to preserve the fundamental rights of our workers to collectively bargain and protect those rights from the increasing attacks from special interests. As the son of a union electrician, I understand firsthand the importance of union rights andhow these rights are intertwined with the well being of the middle class. As Congressman, I will support legislation that enshrines these rights.
Yet here was the scene at the Frederick debate on October 22.
Congressman Bartlett: “John you said in your AFL-CIO survey that you supported the elimination of the secret ballot in union organizing elections. Why don’t you think that American workers deserve the same right to a private ballot that all other Americans do when they go into the voting booth?”
John Delaney: “I think workers do deserve a private ballot.”
Delaney has been no stranger to controversy during this election cycle. Reports of loan sharking, egregious violations in Delaney-owned nursing homes, and violations of environmental laws at Delaney-owned landfill operations have been making news since the Democrat primary in which he soundly defeated Governor O’Malley’s hand picked candidate, State Senator Robert Garagiola.
CD6: John Delaney’s Responses to AFL-CIO’s Candidates Questionnaire