For Immediate Release: Thursday, February 12, 2009
Contact: Dallas Woodhouse (919) 839-1011, ext.15 or cell (919) 671-1050 dwoodhouse@afphq.org

RALEIGH─ Americans for Prosperity (AFP) will defend workers’ rights to cast secret ballots as part of its nationwide Save My Ballot tour in opposition to the misnamed Employee Free Choice Act, also known as “card check,” which would strip workers’ rights in union organizing elections.

“The right to a secure and secret vote has been around since the 19th century to protect voters from abuses that occurred with public voting, allowing them to vote their conscience,” said Dallas Woodhouse, state director of Americans for Prosperity- North Carolina.

Beginning in North Carolina, the nationwide tour will kick off in Greensboro-- the home of Senator Kay Hagan, whose vote on card check legislation is viewed as critical in the U.S. Senate. The Greensboro event will honor Rep. Howard Coble for his support of secret ballot elections. Senator Richard Burr will receive the same honor at the Raleigh event the following day.

AFP will present both Coble and Burr with the “Defense of the American Worker” Award for their support of workers’ rights to cast secret ballots.

Currently, when a union wants to organize workers in a workplace, a federally-supervised secret ballot election is held to determine if a majority of workers fairly choose unionization.

“Through a bill deceivingly labeled the Employee Free Choice Act, some lawmakers want to abolish these private ballot elections and allow unions to organize just by collecting signatures on union cards, giving them the ability to pressure and intimidate workers in public,” said Woodhouse. “We support the secret ballot so every worker has the right to vote on such an important matter without coercion or retaliation.”

AFP will also discuss the importance of keeping our state a Right-to-Work state and keeping North Carolina's ban on collective bargaining for public employees.

“We need to send a strong message to our senators that the Employee Free Choice Act is an enormous assault on our democratic values, and on our rights here in North Carolina and across the nation. It is also important that Congress respect the right of North Carolina citizens to decide if there should continue to be a ban on public employee collective bargaining in our state. The North Carolina General Assembly instituted this ban and Congress has no business overturning it.”

Speakers at both events will include business, community, and political leaders concerned about what the “card check” legislation could do to hurt economic prosperity in North Carolina.

According to a new poll released today by Civitas Institute, 54 percent of North Carolina voters prefer the current federally supervised secret ballot elections for unionization as opposed to an open card-check effort, which aspires to force workers into publicly displaying personal votes. Only 32 percent of voters prefer the card-check method. Fourteen percent of voters were unsure.

Both events are free and open to the public. The first will take place at Greensboro Historical Museum, a special place in our nation’s struggle for civil rights and equality, and the second in downtown Raleigh, across from the legislative building. Food will be served.

The Save My Ballot Tour Schedule is included below:

Save My Ballot Kick-off Reception—Greensboro

Guest speaker: U.S. Rep. Howard Coble

When: Monday, February 16, 5:30pm- 7:30pm

Where: Greensboro Historical Museum

130 Summit Ave

Greensboro, NC 27401


Save My Ballot Luncheon—Raleigh

Guest speaker: U.S. Senator Richard Burr

When: Tuesday, February 17, 10:30am- 12:30pm

Where: Bicentennial Mall (Downtown Raleigh)

16 W. Jones St.

Raleigh, NC 27601


For more information and registration, email info@afpnc.org or visit www.SaveMyBallot.com