The Wall Street Journal’s Kris Maher has a good catch today — the White House is considering whether to issue an executive order compelling government contractors to use secret ballot elections in deciding whether to unionize.

This may sound arcane, but it’s a pretty big deal. The first, second, and third legislative battles for organized labor right now are the effort to eliminate secret ballot elections in favor of employees checking off on a card if they want to join a union. In both methods, a majority of employees have to want a union for it to get started. But with card checks, organizers can approach workers several times with their union pitch.

Regardless of the merits of card check v. secret ballot, it’s morphed into a confrontation that shows politicians’ pro-labor or pro-business bona fides. The President has never been afraid to antagonize unions. This possible executive order may be his last chance to do so.-MB

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