HARRISBURG – The Republican Party of Pennsylvania today responded to the news that Congress will introduce the Employee ‘Forced’ Choice Act (EFCA) in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate today.

“As the economy worsens, liberals in Congress have decided to introduce a bill that will make our economic situation even worse,” said Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason.  “Rather than looking to create jobs, they are looking to put small business owners out of work.  This legislation will kill job creation, kill small businesses and kill any type of hope that is left that our economy will turn around in the near future.”

In February, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania unanimously passed a resolution asking the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation to oppose all efforts to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. A copy of this resolution has been sent to every member of the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation.

“The secret ballot is a fundamental principle of American democracy,” said Congressman Joe Pitts.  “The notion that taking away the protection of the secret ballot somehow makes a process fairer is pure fantasy.”

The Employee Free Choice act will take away an employee’s right to a private ballot in a union organizing effort. It also would place government representatives (arbitrators) in the middle of a workplace by allowing them to impose contract terms on business and job creators.

Pitts concluded, “If individuals want to join a union, that is fine—they can show their support with their vote. But if workers do not want to pay union dollars to be used to advance a political agenda they disagree with, they should also be afforded the same right to cast their vote free of coercion.”

# # #