SPANISH FORT, Ala.—The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce recently launched a grassroots campaign in opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act legislation introduced in Congress March 10.

Chamber President Darrelyn Bender said although union rolls in the area—including Spanish Fort, Malbis, Daphne, Montrose, Fairhope and Point Clear—are slim compared to the total work force, union activity is not the target of the group’s letter-writing campaign.

“The state of Alabama already gives unions the right to come in, sit down and talk with employees, and this legislation—the way it currently reads—takes away a key component of that process. That’s why we oppose it,” Bender said.

Specifically, one component of the act would allow workers to form a union simply by having a majority sign pro-union cards, bypassing the long-standing secret-ballot election process. Another provision would impose binding arbitration should employees and unions fail to negotiate a contract within 120 days.

“There’s just no reason for it,” Bender said.

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, also issued a formal statement on his official Web site opposing the measure.

Shelby said Alabama’s economic growth over the past few years is encouraging, but working to reinforce the message Alabama is open for business is a daily task.

“This includes building infrastructure, keeping taxes low and fair, and allowing free choice for our workers. For these reasons I do not, and will not, support the so-called ‘Employee Free Choice Act,’ which radically alters the existing process for worker unionization,” Shelby stated.

See the rest of this story in the March 26 Spanish Fort Sun.