AFP-Maryland believes in free enterprise, limited government and the ability for business owners to openly talk with their employees about the benefits and drawbacks of unionizing;

Employee Free Choice Act, also referred to as Card Check, would destroy the democratic rights of business owners and take away their ability to have secret ballot elections. Eliminating these secret elections puts employees at risk for intimidation and harassment by unions;

Card Check would allow a union to be certified once it has proven to the National Labor Review Board that a majority of employees (50% plus one) have signed authorization cards, and those cards can be signed at work, at home, online or anywhere;

A business owner who finds his company organized by Card Check would be forced to recognize the first contract presented by a union within 90 days, or ultimately face a government-appointed arbitrator who would set wages and benefits for him;

A business owner found to be violating Card Check would be fined $20,000 per offense;

Many pro-business organizations, such as the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) are opposed to Card Check.

We oppose Card Check legislation and demand that Congress protect Maryland business owners and workers.