In his OpEd “Reject smears against Free Choice Act,” (BDN, July 25) Edward Gorham claims that workers will still have a private vote if “card check” legislation takes effect. He’s wrong.

In fact, this legislation will take away the right every worker has to make an informed, private decision in a voting booth when confronted with a vote to unionize.

If you read the proposed law, it would be illegal to have a traditional private election once the union organizers convinced enough workers (a simple majority) to sign a public card. The union bosses are the ones who will decide if there is a private ballot. Workers’ votes will be made public to their employer, union organizers and co-workers.

That’s not fair.

No one, employers and union organizers alike, should fear an election conducted by private ballot. The only way to protect an individual’s freedom to choose without subtle or overt coercion and guarantee worker protection is through the continued use of a federally supervised private ballot so that personal decisions about whether to join a union remain private. Sen. Susan Collins understands that – apparently Congressman Tom Allen doesn’t.

Stacey L. Morrison

CEO and owner,

Ganneston Construction Corp.

Augusta