OPPO HIT OF THE DAY.

American Rights at Work, a pro-union advocacy group, passes along this bit of research to characterize Republicans opposed to the Employee Free Choice Act as hypocrites. Although the most-cited talking point for conservatives lobbying against the legislation is that it denies workers a secret ballot, ARW observes that the Republican National Committee's by-laws deny their own members a secret ballot vote. To wit:

Republican National Committee Rules Prohibit Secret Ballots: The bylaws of the Republican National Committee read, “No votes (except elections to office when properly ordered pursuant to the provisions of Robert’s Rules of Order) shall be taken by secret ballot in any open meeting of the Republican National Committee or of any committee thereof.” [RNC Rules, Rule No. 7(d), pg. 7] From the RNC’s 2008 platform: Protecting Union Workers Stopping the Assault on the Secret Ballot

The recent attempt by congressional Democrats to deny workers a secret ballot in union referenda is an assault, not only against a fundamental principle of labor law, but even more against the dignity and honor of the American work force. We oppose “card check” legislation, which deprives workers of their privacy and their right to vote, because it exposes workers to intimidation by union organizers.

The elections to office exception is a pretty big one and will no doubt figure in the Republican response, but it's a nice reminder that democratic practice is not solely the secret ballot but has other sufficient conditions -- free speech, equal access, a lack of intimidation -- currently forbidden by law to workers organizing unions.

-- Tim Fernholz