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Group plans petitions on secret ballots, paycheck deductions
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REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU
Updated: Feb. 25, 2010 | 7:05 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- A national organization unhappy with organized labor intends to circulate two petitions in Nevada this year that would require union elections to be by secret ballot and require employees to agree before political contributions are taken from their paychecks.
A third petition to be circulated by SOS (Save Our Secret) Ballot would add to the state constitution the requirement that elections for public office and issues be conducted by secret ballot, as they are done now by widespread practice.
"I cannot imagine anything more private than how you vote and how you spend your money," said Tim Mooney, national spokesman for the organization, which is made up of many small-business owners.
SOS Ballot is countering a nationwide union movement to force state and federal governments to adopt "card check," which would allow workers to form a union by signing cards instead of holding a secret ballot vote.
Businesses say card check would make it easier for unions to organize workers, pushing up the cost of doing business and restricting managements' ability to control its work force.
David Kallas, a legislative lobbyist for the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, objected to the two questions that would affect unions.
"Their goal is to impede unions' ability to organize," Kallas said Wednesday.
"We (unions) act in the best interests of our members," he said, adding that members approve bylaws that spell out the rights and responsibilities of unions.
He said unions need contributions from members to support politicians who back their causes.
The SOS Ballot Nevada initiative on paychecks really is an "impediment" to block unions from acting in their members' best interest, Kallas said.
Mooney acknowledged that unions have opposed similar efforts in other states, and he expects challenges in Nevada.
In Wyoming, unions sought to do away with a requirement calling for secret ballots in union elections, he said.
Mooney said the paycheck deduction proposal is important because of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that lifts limits on the amount of money that corporations and unions can contribute to political campaigns. SOS Ballot believes that because of that decision, there will be a concerted effort by unions and others to secure contributions from employees.
"We expect a union challenge," Mooney said. "They want to know how I vote and who I give money to."
Concerning SOS's third petition, Mooney said that under the Nevada Constitution, a secret ballot is not guaranteed in elections for public bodies and on public issues. The Nevada Constitution states only that elections will be by "ballot."
Mooney admitted, though, that local, state and national elections have been by secret ballot for about 130 years.
Mooney wouldn't identify people and companies that contribute to the national effort, but SOS' state chairman is Steve Wark, a Republican political consultant who is handling the gubernatorial campaign of former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon.
Mooney said he will comply with state laws requiring the identification of contributors to the SOS Ballot Nevada Group.
The three petitions, if approved by voters, would amend the state constitution.
SOS needs to get more than 97,000 signatures of registered voters on each petition by Aug. 4. If it does, the measures will be placed on the November ballot. To be placed in the constitution, they must be approved in November and again in 2012.
Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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How do I sign up? The unions are destroying this country. Just look at BEAUTIFUL Detroit, MI as an example of the damage unions cause. We especially need to disband the public sector unions. Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, SEIU's gotta go!
I have a problem with the secret ballot on "issues" - If this means that our legiscritters or even local officals can vote on legislation or other matters in secret, I say NO WAY....I want to KNOW how I am being represented.
All the anti-union sentiment here is amazing. Weekends, vacation pay, 8 hour work days, overtime, vacation pay ALL THANKS TO UNIONS. Unions want free choice for workers WITHOUT intimidation, this does not exist due to current law which allows employers to hold captive meetings and threaten employees who wish to organize, unions cannot hold these captive meetings and must rely on employee rosters which are supplied by the company, and are ALWAYS full of bad addresses. Unions want an EVEN playing field for the benefit of the employee. Companies want to continue their multi-million dollar bonuses, all the while cutting employee benefits and income. They refuse to acknowledge that if it weren't for the employee, none of them would be making a single cent.
I think the unions should have a petition to put on the ballot an end to RIGHT TO WORK laws which are 100% for the employer, and anti-worker at their very core.
DAVE KALLAS SAYS HE WANTS CARD CHECK SO HE CAN EXPAND BENEFITS FOR HIS MEMBERS. REMEMBER THESE THUGS THAT CONNED PEOPLE INTO GIVING THEM AN EXTRA TAX TO GET MORE COPS ON THE STREET? REMEMBER WHAT THEY DID???
AS SOON AS THE TAX WAS PASSED THE UNION MADE A DEMAND FOR A 40% INCREASE IN PAY AND BENEFITS FOR IT'S MEMBERS.
UNIONS SHOULD BE BANNED FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. UNIONS SHOULD BE BANNED PERIOD.
Unions, universities and churches ... the three biggest money-making schemes ever created! No services or organizations receive so much yet deliver so little.
We need "card check". It will reduce unemployment by employing more union thugs.