As a veteran, letter carrier and a member of a union, I want to address the arguments advanced by the opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act; especially the sentiment that EFCA takes away the right to a secret ballot union election.

When people hear about the secret ballot in union elections, they often mistakenly believe the elections are like those we have for political candidates.

A union election is not like a political election at all.

Right now, before an election is sanctioned, the organizing workers must give their employer the cards their fellow workers have signed expressing their preference to form a union. Managers know how each worker would vote if the election was held on the day the cards are given to the employer; free from intimidation and threat.

Opponents of the legislation aimed at leveling the playing field for workers ignore that several companies have allowed workers to organize by majority sign up for years, and that workers may also still request a ballot election.

The key takeaway is that this legislation puts the decision for how workers organize back in the hands of workers, instead of a company-controlled process dictated by corporate CEOs.

I am proud to have fought for my country, to protect the values we hold dear: opportunity and freedom. The middle class is disappearing before our eyes, and the Employee Free Choice Act is a common-sense solution for reversing that trend and building an economy that works for everyone.

Phil Goodell

Skowhegan