The U.S. Senate is set to act this week on legislation that would strip away employees’ freedom to choose whether or not union representation is right for themselves and their families. The legislation, S. 1041/H.R. 800 — the “Employee Free Choice Act,” would replace the secret ballot election process with a process called “card check” where a union is recognized in a workplace if a majority of workers sign a card in the presence of union organizers and fellow employees who support unionization.

The House passed H.R. 800 on March 1. The Senate is expected to vote this week. A procedural (cloture) motion to limit debate is expected prior to the vote on final passage. Proponents will need 60 votes to proceed. The vote on cloture is the best opportunity to defeat this bill.

Though Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin support the bill, the Maryland Chamber believes it’s important that you contact them and let them know where you stand on the issue. Take action now. Click here. Here is what the National Association of Manufacturers has to say this morning:

“By most accounts, debate will be kept short since the outcome is all but certain — the failure to gain the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture.

That’s good on one hand, because the bill dies this session. It doesn’t have to go to the President for his veto.

But it’s bad, because a few Senators may justify a yea vote with the traditional excuse, “Well, no big deal, it’s not going to pass anyway.” Even so, once lawmakers go on the record with a yes vote, it’s harder to change their minds in future years; labor’s strategy is a multiyear one based on maintaining Democratic, pro-union majorities in both chambers and electing a Democratic president in 2008.

So complacency is the enemy, right? Therefore ….urge your Senator to oppose this assault on the secret ballot.”