For immediate release

Contact: Terry Hill, 202-628-8000 

WASHINGTON, D.C. June 26 – The International Franchise Association praised Congress’ bipartisan defeat of the deceptively-named “Employee Free Choice Act of 2007,” expressing hope that employees’ rights to a secret vote when choosing whether to join a union would continue to be protected in the years to come.  

IFA is a founding member of the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, which was formed to combat the anti-small-business measure, and which will continue to oppose future legislation of the same nature that is introduced before Congress. 

“It’s heartening to see that Congress, on the eve of this nation’s most hallowed and sacred day that celebrates freedom—Independence Day—upheld the cornerstones of American democracy to honor the rights of the working Americans,” said IFA Pres. Matthew Shay. 

For the past 60 years, the National Labor Relations Board has effectively monitored the secret ballot process for employees, protecting their freedom in the workplace.  The measure would have granted union recognition based on signed union cards—a process that is notorious for peer intimidation and union coercion.  The NLRB provides detailed and strict procedures ensuring fair elections, free of fraud, where employees may cast their votes confidentially without peer pressure or coercion from unions or employees.  

The association and its small-business allies vowed to stand firm to protect a viable industry that, according to an IFA Educational Foundation study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, generates more than $1.53 trillion in economic output and provides jobs for more than 18 million Americans. 

As the oldest and largest franchising trade group, IFA serves more than 1,200 franchise systems, 10,000 franchisees and 400 supplier members in its mission to safeguard the business environment for franchising worldwide.  

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Editor’s Note :  Representatives from the franchising community will visit with members of Congress as part of the 8th annual Franchise Appreciation Day Activities Sept. 10-11.  Political columnist George Will will serve as keynote speaker.

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