Coalition for a Democratic Workplace Launches New Television Ad

Coalition for a Democratic Workplace Launches New Television Ad

New ad aimed at educating voters on protecting the private ballot for workers

WASHINGTON, April 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With union special interests making support for the mis-named Employee Free Choice Act, or "card check" bill, a litmus test for candidate support, the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) today announced a new public awareness campaign aimed at educating voters about this anti-worker legislation.

As part of its multi-faceted campaign, CDW will today release a new television ad designed to engage and connect voters to the issue. The ad, developed by nationally known media strategist Mike Murphy, uses a widely recognized character who will be easily identifiable to voters and will use humor to reinforce the need to protect private ballots for workers. The ad will begin airing on national cable news channels on Friday, April 25. The script of the ad is attached.

"Worker privacy is at stake in the upcoming elections and our goal is to educate voters about this important issue," said Brian Worth with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace. "If this anti-worker legislation passes, workers will lose their right to a private ballot. Our polling indicates that support for card check is a potential liability for candidates on Election Day," added Worth.

Recent polls in Colorado, Minnesota and Maine conducted by CDW suggest widespread voter opposition to Big Labor's card-check scheme. Nearly two-thirds of voters in Colorado (68%), Maine (72%) and Minnesota (65%) oppose the EFCA. Conversely, at least 80% of voters in all three states believe that secret ballot elections are the cornerstone of democracy and should be kept for union elections.

As the leading, broad-based coalition fighting the anti-worker "card check" scheme, CDW has been actively working this issue since early 2007. The coalition ran TV and radio ads in states and Congressional districts last year urging members of Congress to support private ballots for workers and oppose the Employee Free Choice Act.

In an effort to fight declining union membership, the labor lobby has aggressively sought passage of the mis-named Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Under the EFCA, workers would lose their right to a private ballot when deciding whether to join a union. The private ballot would be replaced with a "card-check" scheme where a union is organized if a majority of workers simply sign a card; the workers' signatures are made public to their employer, the union organizers and their co-workers.

About the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace

The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace is made up of more than 500 associations and organizations from every state across the nation that have joined together to protect a worker's right to a private ballot when deciding whether to join a union. For more information and a listing of our membership, please visit www.MyPrivateBallot.com.

   TV Ad Script Below:    Navigators                                     "Changes"   TV Spot :30   VIDEO:                                         AUDIO:    OPEN on Worker, 30, in jeans   Standing in old style voting   booth, shot from rear.                                                   ANNCR: (VO) Today, when                                                  workers vote on having a                                                  union at their workplace,                                                  they use a secret ballot.    Interior of voting booth.   Man ponders his vote.                                                  ANNCR: But a new law could                                                  change all that.    Hand appears on man's shoulder.   Boss character suddenly   appears in booth, joining   the worker.                                                  BOSS: How ya doin'?                                                   WORKER: Who are you?    Boss looks at ballot, then   at worker. Points to ballot.                                                   BOSS: Whaddaya got there?                                                   WORKER: My secret ballot!    Beat. Stares, laughs.                                                   BOSS: Not anymore it ain't.    He snaps his fingers.   The booth vanishes, leaving   them standing in limbo with   5 menacing characters, both   management and labor, watching   them.                                                   WORKER: Who are...?                                                   ANNCR: Under a card check                                                  law, workers would just                                                  sign a card.    Boss hands worker a card.   Pulls out pen. Clicks top.                                                   WORKER: (stuttering)                                                  Listen, I'm...I...                                                   ANNCR: And everybody would                                                  know how they voted.    Worker looks at card, looks   at crowd. Peevish looking   management woman watches him,   making notes on clipboard.   Union guys watch too.   Worker stares nervously at   ballot. Boss motions for   him to sign.    SUPER                                                  ANNCR: Tell the candidates                                                  to protect worker privacy.    Boss points to ballot.                                                   BOSS: Do it.  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Coalition for a Democratic Workplace

CONTACT: Rhonda Bentz, +1-202-580-7289, for the Coalition for a
Democratic Workplace

Web site: http://www.myprivateballot.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment