The SLO Chamber has joined the U.S. Chamber in opposition to union-backed federal legislation to change the rules for how unionization efforts are decided.

Under current rules that have been in place for decades, if a union gets 30 percent of a company's workforce to sign a union card there is a secret ballot election held to see if the union will represent the workers. (The unions win about 60 percent of these elections.)

The unions have proposed a new system: If the union can obtain the signatures of 50 percent of the workers on cards, there is then no requirement for a secret ballot election and it's a done deal. Under this proposal, groups of union organizers could easily intimidate workers into signing the cards and the company might not even have a chance to correct misinformation. Even more scary, it also includes a binding arbitration provision if union and management can't reach agreement in 120 days.

Our Congresswoman Lois Capps is a co-sponsor of this legislation - but might change her vote if she hears from enough of her constituents. Click here tell Capps how you feel. (Have your ZIP +4 handy.) Or call her local office at 805-546-8348.

Businesses also can add their name to a letter the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is sending all member of Congress on the issue, a copy of which is attached. If you'd like to be on the letter, send your name, title, company name, address and email to Michael Dendas at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .