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Those who don’t want to be represented by a Union are finding it difficult to have their voice heard.

A group of employees at Cedarbrook nursing homes told Lehigh County commissioners Wednesday that they want a secret ballot to determine unionization and raised concerns about the bargaining committee now in contract negotiations with the county.

Gone are the days when a group of employees had to VOTE for union representation. Now, it’s a simple matter of getting enough union card signatures. Many people do not know this; they will sign these cards under the guise of having an interest in learning more about a union. The cards are being used as “signatures” now, replacing the voting option.

In October, County Executive Don Cunningham asked the state labor relations board to certify Local 1776, based on a count of pro-union cards from 56 percent of the employees in the prospective bargaining unit.

But a group of employees, concerned the cards were solicited under pressure, filed a petition with the state board to call for an election, as had been done seven times before. The board set an election date but last week rescinded it after the union appealed. It concluded that based on labor statutes, Local 1776 legally represents the workers, and that a previous decision in a 1984 case to grant an election to petitioners was incorrect.

Still, anti-union workers circulated a petition asking for a secret ballot that had 163 signatures and was given to Dougherty Tuesday.

I think ballot votes should prevail in all union based activity. Using the cards is deceptive practice. A vote is the voice of so many. I also believe many unions know they cannot get the votes they need so they’re resorting to abusing these cards. 163 people are forced to work with union representation they do not want. This is fair isn’t it?