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The measure would cause union coercion and weaken clout at the bargaining table.

June 21, 2007

— Senators are scheduled to vote this week on a measure that would hurt the bargaining strength of union members.

That's not how union officials see the Employee Free Choice Act, but a closer examination of the measure shows that to be the case.

Allowing workers to form unions by signing petitions or union cards, rather than by secret ballot, invites coercion. Also, keeping the secret ballot will force organizers to convince the maximum number of employees of the benefit of union membership. The more members on the union's rolls, the greater its clout at the bargaining table.

The difference between having the support of half the membership plus one and having 90 percent support can be significant during contract negotiations.

This is a difficult time for unions, most of which are experiencing significant declines in membership because of significant changes in the economy.

Approximately 7.5 percent of all private-sector employees are union members, compared with 33 percent after World War II.

Nevertheless, it would be poor public policy to let unions increase their numbers by depriving rank-and-file members of the chance to cast their ballot, without fear of reprisal or peer pressure.

We urge Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe to oppose the measure, despite the union-supported advertisements that have been airing on Portland television stations this week.

Fortunately, even if the Senate passes the bill, it is unlikely to become law.

President Bush is likely to veto it, and when the House approved it in March -- with the support of U.S. Reps. Tom Allen and Mike Michaud -- it fell short of the two-thirds vote needed to override the veto.

Supporters of the measure will undoubtedly try again if a Democrat wins the White House next year.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., was among the speakers at a Capitol Hill rally on Tuesday to urge senators to pass the bill.

Enacting this measure will help Democrats curry favor among organized labor, one of the party's most important constituencies.

During the months leading up to an election year, all kinds of bills of questionable merit are brought up for a vote.

We hope that when the Employee Free Choice Act is considered, senators will defeat it.