2010 Archives
Regional Chambers Unite to Oppose Card Check at the Nation's Capitol
HARRISBURG (March 9, 2010) -- Representatives of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the York County Chamber of Commerce visited Washington D.C. last week for a Card Check ‘Fly-In' sponsored by the United State Chamber of Commerce. During their visit, they met with United States Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey Jr. and expressed their opposition to the Card Check legislation.
The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), also known as Card Check, would dramatically change union organizing across the United States. The purpose of Card Check is to make it easier for unions to organize by eliminating the need for secret ballot election and replacing it with employee signed authorization cards. The legislation would also hand the federal government power to dictate workplace pay and benefits through binding arbitration forcing unfair mandates on businesses large and small.
The card check bill was introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate in February 2009, before hitting bipartisan resistance in the Senate. That resistance led to talk of other job-killing "compromises" such as restricting employer free speech about unionization, acceleration of union elections and mandating sweeping workplace access to union organizers.
The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC has officially opposed the legislation since February 2009 and has continued to oppose the bill and any comprises that have arisen. David Black, President & CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC said, "We appreciated the opportunity to meet with Senators Casey and Specter and try to better understand their positions. While Senator Casey is a strong supporter of legislation and Senator Specter has stated his opposition to the actual Card Check provision while seeking compromise on arbitration issues, it is important that they hear from real business about the potential harm to business on a day-to-day basis and the harm to American business' competitiveness in the global marketplace. Trips like these make it possible to share our concerns and perspectives."
While meeting with Senators Specter and Casey, the Regional Chambers also expressed their concerns with forthcoming health care legislation and the challenges they face in the business community.
The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC serves as a catalyst for promoting growth and quality of life in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties by providing a unique blend of business, community and economic development and advocacy services under one roof to boost our economic vitality and livability as a region. Over the past 8 years, the Chamber & CREDC has provided assistance that has created over $250M in economic impact and created or retained over 11,000 jobs. HRC/CREDC has been accredited with four stars from the United States Chamber of Commerce.
