[legion]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070626/ap_on_go_co/senate_unions

Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a bill that would allow labor unions to organize workplaces without a secret ballot election.
...
Unions complain that employers have greater access to workers during secret ballot campaigns and claim that corporate threats, intimidation and eventual firings have become common for union activists. By dragging out the election process, companies often succeed in wearing down union enthusiasm, they add.

Employers contend that union recognition elections prevent just the reverse from happening. Using only a card check system, they argue, would enable union organizers to use their knowledge of who did and didn't sign cards to intimidate reluctant workers.

Having seen a "scab" had his tires slashed and windows broken when I lived in Peoria as a kid, you can tell how I think a public ballot would turn out...