Free choice would hurt small businesses

To the editor:

I find it ironic that our nation is celebrating its independence when the so-called Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is threatening small businesses across the country with a government takeover.

Among other flaws with this political payback to unions, EFCA would enforce a mandatory binding arbitration procedure after just 90 days of collective bargaining. Final contracts would be decided exclusively by a federal arbitrator from Washington. This sets a very dangerous precedent for government interference in the private sector.

Small businesses in Alaska are already struggling from the economic downturn and cannot afford to have costly terms imposed upon them by the government. While times are tough for workers, I think most of them would rather protect their jobs by allowing some flexibility for management so that small businesses don’t have to shut their doors for good.

Our labor laws are already strong and maintain an appropriate balance of power between unions and management. I think the founding fathers would not approve of forcing businesses to accept terms dictated to them by a government bureaucrat.

Lynn Gattis

Wasilla