Card Check Update: Coalition Statement Dismisses Corporate Attempts at Compromise

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Rhonda Bentz
March 22, 2009
(202) 315-5100


CDW Dismisses Proposal by Corporate Execs
“Compromise” Move Suggests EFCA on Life Support

The trade and business groups of the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, and the millions of employers and employees represented by these groups, oppose reported attempts by a the CEOs of Starbucks, Whole Foods, and Costco to strike a compromise on the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).

CDW is pleased that both Mr. Lanny Davis, consultant to these compromise proponents, and James Sinegal, the CEO of Costco, have unequivocally stated that the current card-check proposal and the mandatory binding arbitration proposal were both non-starters in any legitimate debate on labor law reform.

We further appreciate Mr. Davis' statement that, contrary to the claims of EFCA proponents, the the secret ballot would be effectively eliminated through card-check campaigns under EFCA.

While the “statement of principles” advocated by these CEOs is overly broad and void any of the kind of detail that would merit taking it seriously, the one certain result if it were pursued is that small business would be seriously and negatively impacted.
This new compromise proposal naively ignores the current reality in Congress; that support for EFCA is waning due to continued pressure from small businesses and their employees.

Until EFCA is defeated and removed from this process, neither this proposal nor any other can be taken seriously.

CDW will continue to stand up for hard-working Americans and small business owners by opposing EFCA in its entirety.


About the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace
The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace is made up of more than 500 associations and organizations from every state across the nation that have joined together to protect a worker’s right to a private ballot when deciding whether to join a union. In 2008, CDW embarked on a multi-million dollar public education campaign in key states that included polling, television, radio and internet ads and direct mail. For more information and a listing of our membership, please visit www.MyPrivateBallot.com