Group plans petitions on secret ballots, paycheck deductions

The Las Vegas Review-Journal: A national organization unhappy with organized labor intends to circulate two petitions in Nevada this year that would require union elections to be by secret ballot and require employees to agree before political contributions are taken from their paychecks. A third petition to be circulated by SOS (Save Our Secret) Ballot would add to the state constitution the requirement that elections for public office and issues be conducted by secret ballot, as they are done now by widespread practice. “I cannot imagine anything more private than how you vote and how you spend your money," said Tim Mooney, national spokesman for the organization, which is made up of many small-business owners.

SOS Ballot is countering a nationwide union movement to force state and federal governments to adopt "card check," which would allow workers to form a union by signing cards instead of holding a secret ballot vote. Businesses say card check would make it easier for unions to organize workers, pushing up the cost of doing business and restricting managements' ability to control its work force. David Kallas, a legislative lobbyist for the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, objected to the two questions that would affect unions. "Their goal is to impede unions' ability to organize," Kallas said Wednesday. "We (unions) act in the best interests of our members," he said, adding that members approve bylaws that spell out the rights and responsibilities of unions. He said unions need contributions from members to support politicians who back their causes.

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