Group running TV ads on ‘card-check’ proposal

The National Right to Work Committee took to the airwaves yesterday to pressure Virginia Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner to vote against proposed "card-check" legislation.

The two Democrats are said to be undecided on the legislation, sought by labor unions and opposed by the business community.

The Springfield-based Right to Work Committee has bought $2 million in television ads in five states, including Virginia, urging viewers to call wavering senators. "The truth is, passage of card check would be a massive expansion of union bosses' power over workers at the expense of their privacy and freedom," Dennis Fusaro, executive director of the committee, said during a news conference at the Doubletree Hotel Historic Richmond.

Under "card check," employers would be required to recognize a union as soon as a majority of workers signed cards saying they want to join a union. Now, employers can insist on a secret ballot.

There were several news reports on Capitol Hill yesterday that the card-check provision has been dropped and the overall legislation itself may not be acted on this year because of other demands, such as health-care reform. "You can't be too vigilant," Fusaro said.

Warner aide Kevin Hall said "its sponsors say it's now on the back burner in Congress, so there's no way for Senator Warner -- or anyone else -- to know what this proposal eventually will look like."

Jessica Smith, a spokeswoman for Webb, said: "Senator Webb has always been a supporter of collective-bargaining rights. At the same time, he believes that any proposal must preserve the secret ballot process."

Fusaro suggested that card-check supporters are dropping the provision to allow a bill to get to the Senate floor, then will try to amend the bill there to restore card check.

Jim Leaman, president of the Virginia AFL-CIO, said the bill is designed to bring "justice and fairness" to a collective-bargaining system that is weighted toward management.

Meanwhile, a radio ad in the Richmond area targeted Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, who as the Republican whip has been one of the harshest critics of President Barack Obama's economic-stimulus package. Pointing to rising unemployment, Republican critics say the stimulus is not working.

The ad, sponsored by the Democratic National Committee, says the stimulus package is supporting "vital projects in Virginia -- more than $5 million for community health centers, $116 million for public transportation and $52 million for the Chesterfield County schools."

"After years of supporting George Bush's disastrous economic policies, it's no surprise Congressman Eric Cantor opposed the recovery act that's creating and preserving jobs here in Virginia," the ad says. It lists Cantor's Washington office telephone number.

"Tell him to start supporting a real economic recovery in Virginia instead of playing politics," it declares.

Ray Allen, a spokesman for Cantor, said: "Negative ads don't create jobs." Cantor has proposed a tax cut for small businesses that will create thousands of new jobs, he said.

Allen said the ad cost $2,000 and will run for four days on radio station WRVA (1140 AM).

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or .