Secret Ballot Protection Act of 2005

H.R. 874, the Secret Ballot Protection Act of 2005, would require that all labor union certifications be decided through a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board. Under this bill, it would be illegal for an employer to recognize a union, or for a union to seek recognition, through any other method—such as "card check" programs where workers publicly sign authorization cards. For everyday citizens, this means that the choice to join or form a union would always be made through a private vote, intended to prevent potential pressure or intimidation from either employers or union organizers. The bill was introduced in 2005 but did not advance past the committee stage during that session of Congress.