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Copyright 2008

Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
45 E. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
740-702-2722

Secret ballot election necessary

to protect workers from intimidation

By Marvin Jones

President and CEO

“For decades, the right of workers to unionize in this country has been the law of the land. Over the years, that right has been upheld and strengthened by the courts. The process is fair to all parties, especially since it includes a secret ballot election. Any effort to remove a secret ballot election from the process must be thwarted.”

Rep. Zack Space and Senators George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown will receive letters shortly from the chamber urging them to block any federal legislation that removes the secret ballot election from unionization regulations. Legislation that would greatly alter the process is expected to be introduced in Congress early in the 2009 session. An attempt in 2007 was approved in the House of Representatives (with Rep. Space voting in favor of it), but it failed to come to a vote in the Senate.

President-elect Barack Obama is solidly on record in favor of what is being called the Employee Free Choice Act. He also has pledged his support of efforts to increase the minimum wage and to enact mandated sick leave days on the federal level. On what is termed the “card check” issue, employees would be on record as supporting or opposing a unionization attempt, opening them to coercion, threats and intimidation from the company, fellow employees, friends, family and the world.

The present process, in place for decades, allows unions to call for a secret ballot election if they get 30 percent of the employees to sign a card requesting the election. The winner in a secret ballot election is the party receiving at least 50 percent plus one of all the votes. No one knows how an employee votes.

The process being promoted by unions in Congress would allow a union to form if it can get 50 percent plus one of the employees just to sign the card. The organizing union would know who had and hadn’t signed the card. The company also would know, but only if it knew unionization attempt was under way.

Other provisions of the legislation would probably include:

• If the union is certified from the cards, a contract must be reached within 90 days or it could become subject of binding arbitration. The non-negotiated contract would be binding for two years.
• Employers could be subject to civil penalties of up to $20,000 per violation if they are found to have violated employees’ rights in either a campaign in negotiating a contract. Back pay awards would be triple. Unions would face no penalties.
• Employers don’t have to be notified if a union plans an organization attempt.
• There is no threshold on the number of employees who could form a union. One 5-employee department in a company could become unionized if three of the employees sign the cards.

The early targets of new unionization attempts, if card check becomes law, will be hospitals and those in health-related businesses plus retail, hospitality, banks and call centers, according to some sources.

The chamber’s Board of Directors Thursday approved unanimously sending a letter to our representative and senators urging them to vote against any attempt to remove the secret ballot provision from the unionization process. We’ll keep you posted on other efforts, but also urge all our members to let our congressmen know how you feel.

Here’s more information on the issue: Card check

Here’s the letter from the chamber: Card check opposition

Prevailing wage, zoning review also on board list

In addition to the letter on the card check issue, the chamber’s board also approved sending letters on two other issues recommended by the Advocacy Committee.

• Mayor Joe Sulzer is being urged to request funds in the initial 2009 city appropriations measure to cover the cost of a comprehensive review of the city’s zoning laws and districts. It’s been more than 35 years since they were reviewed and council continues to make changes on a case-by-case basis. The review would bring into play the many changes in zoning philosophy over the years and modernize the city’s laws based on recent developments. It will provide much better guidance to developers and to businesses along with those wanting to make changes in residential areas, without having to go to the Planning Commission or council first. The mayor and Planning Commission requested the review earlier this year, but council said money was not available. Zoning review letter
• Gov. Ted Strickland is being asked to reconsider the new guidelines he issued recently on the use of paying prevailing wages on projects that receive state funds or incentives. His guidelines essentially order prevailing wages paid to all workers on any project receiving even $1 in state or local help. State Sen. John Carey has held hearings trying to clarify the guidelines where prevailing wages would be paid on the percentage of state funds as part of the entire project. Strickland has indicated he’s not interested in making any changes. Under Strickland’s guidelines, it would appear the owners of the Carlisle would be forced to pay contractors the prevailing wage on all work, severely undermining and devaluing the tax credits they received. Prevailing wage letter

Expo/BAB was fun and games

The 50 exhibitors at the chamber’s annual Expo and Business After Business this week got a chance to talk about their products and services to the nearly 250 who attended the event at Shoemaker Center at OU-C. With each exhibitor providing at least one door prize, many went home with a gift card, quilt or other special gift. The evening concluded with some spirited competition among the ad hoc teams in games designed by the crew of Lazer Jam Music and Fun, which provided the background music and sound system for the event. A photo gallery of the event will be posted soon on the chamber’s site.

New directors, officers approved by board

Liz Corzine of Schlegel’s Coffee House becomes the new chair of the chamber’s Board of Directors the first of the year. The board made it official Thursday by approving the slate of directors and officers recommended by the Nominating Committee. The new directors will replace out-going board members Ed Behanna (who’s served as chairman the past two years), Lori Hice of the VA Medical Center, Garry Mick of the Kenworth Truck Company, Jim Butt of B&B Roofing and Karen McKee of Horizon Chillicothe Telephone. Henry Thrapp of G&J Pepsi is resigning at the end of this year. Here are the board members re-elected to second terms, elected to first terms and the officers:

For second terms:

• Adam Halm of Halm Investment Services
• Doug Shoemaker of Huntington Bank
• Chad Walters of Chad Walters Enterprises

For first terms:

• Ron Cottrell of Kenworth Truck Company
• Robin Fowler of Robin Fowler State Farm Insurance
• Paul Gerber of Glatfelter
• Steve Hummel of Transitions Unlimited/Price Real Estate and Auction Services
• Stacia Ruby of VA Medical Center
• Steve Steele of Horizon Telcom

Officers:

• Chair: Liz Corzine of Schlegel’s
• Vice chair: Adam Halm of Halm Investment Services
• Treasurer: Lana Corcoran of ArtTech
• Officer: Chad Walters of Chad Walters Enterprises
• Officer: Pat Nichols of Traditions of Bristol Village
• Officer: Steve Hummel of Transitions Unlimited!

Red Cross makes it easier to donate

With recent disasters wiping out the relief fund of the American Red Cross, the organization has made it easier for you to donate. Pick up your cell phone, text the message GIVE to 24357 and $5 will be sent to Red Cross. The charge will appear on your monthly bill.

Newest chamber member:

Zimam Home Healthcare, 415 E. Mound St., Columbus, by Elio Harmon, 614-0550, www.zimamhealthcare.com

Here’s who’s been issued vendor licenses recently by the Ross County Auditor:

• S Originals, 2390 Dearth Road, Kingston, by Sara Singer
• Big Dog Customs, 450 E. Second St.