Private ballot, coercion and intimidation are words I have heard about the Employee Free Choice Act. Here are some facts on this issue:

The private ballot can be used if only 30 percent of the employees want one. Right now, it is the employer who calls for it. Companies such as Cingular, AT&T, Kaiser Permanente, Harley Davidson and others already use the majority sign-up with no problems.

The EFCA has the support of human rights groups, academics, historians, people from both parties in Congress, religious groups and civil rights groups.

Those against the EFCA include chambers of commerce and many businesses that have spent millions to prevent workers from bettering themselves.

The card check practiced for years was never found to be unconstitutional.

The whole issue has nothing to do with the private ballot. But don’t believe me. Anyone could try asking a boss for a private vote on his property for better working conditions, or a raise, or insurance and see where he stands then.

Many workers are happy in their workplace and don’t desire a union to represent them; but those who do, should have access to a system that is not broken and rigged in the employer’s favor.

People could do a Web search for EFCA, the NLRA and NLRB and see for themselves how the cards are stacked against middle-class workers.

It’s time to level the playing field between workers and the corporations who seem to rule everything

Joe Mailey, Auburn