Great Op-Ed in the Post About Unions and the Secret Ballot

Economy | January 8, 2009

By David Stokes | Read Time 1 minute

Former (as of yesterday) state Senator John Loudon has a terrific opinion piece in today’s Post-Dispatch about the need to preserve the secret ballot in union certification votes. As you probably know, there is an absolutely horrendous bill in Congress that has a terrifyingly high chance of passing now, known as the Employee Free Choice Act — which Loudon correctly identifies as a rather Orwellian title. This bill would discontinue the secret ballot for union votes.

Its only purpose is to increase union membership, by making it easier for workers who want unions to win these votes. If you think the days of On The Waterfront are over, I need only point you to the tactics employed by unions in fire districts around the St. Louis area. You can find that information here and here.

Thanks to Combest for the original link, and to South County Truth Spot for the work they do covering the field in South St. Louis County.

About the Author

David Stokes

David Stokes is a St. Louis native and a graduate of Saint Louis University High School and Fairfield (Conn.) University. He spent six years as a political aide at the St. Louis County Council before joining the Show-Me Institute in 2007. Stokes was a policy analyst at the Show-Me Institute from 2007 to 2016. From 2016 through 2020 he was Executive Director of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, where he led efforts to oppose harmful floodplain developments done with abusive tax subsidies. Stokes rejoined the Institute in early 2021 as the Director of Municipal Policy. He is a past president of the University City Library Board. He served on the St. Louis County 2010 Council Redistricting Commission and was the 2012 representative to the Electoral College from Missouri’s First Congressional District. He lives in University City with his wife and their three children.

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