Employee Free Choice Act
Posted by Kim on September 23rd, 2008 / 
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Have you heard of the Employee Free Choice Act?
There are pros and cons to this potential law- read up on it here.
While not receiving the same media attention as the sub-prime mortgage crisis, the misleadingly named Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is sure to be a hot-button issue in the 2008 election, and threatens to have just as big an affect on this country’s economic well-being. The EFCA may bring about the most drastic overhaul of private sector labor relations since the passage of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) in 1935. Ironically, if passed, the EFCA would severely restrict employees’ free choice when it comes to workplace unionization campaigns.
The EFCA was first introduced in 2003, and passed in the House of Representatives last year, before being blocked in the Senate. However, the bill may be reintroduced should the Democrats solidify control of the Senate and gain control of the White House, since Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has pledged to support the EFCA.
The Act would significantly alter current private sector labor laws in several ways. First and foremost, the EFCA would allow “card-check” certification of unions, meaning that in order for the union to become the bargaining representative, it only needs a majority of workers to sign authorization cards.
In a card-check procedure, an employer views union authorization cards presented by the union and determines whether the union has gathered cards from a majority of employees. If the union has received a majority of employee support, the employer can recognize the union as the employees’ exclusive collective bargaining representative. This procedure eliminates a secret-ballot election, which allows the employees to educate themselves regarding the benefits and downsides of union representation.
What’s your opinion of this? Should labor unions be allowed to represent employees without a secret ballot vote? Is getting enough cards signed good enough?
Pro EFCA sites:
AFLCIO
Employee Free Choice Act
Against EFCA info:
Heritage Foundation
Coalition for a Democratic Workplace
September 24th, 2008 at 3:17 am
I am kind of on the fence when it comes to the subject of being represented by a labor union. I don’t relish the thought of my union dues being spent on political campaigns or lobbying expenses.
My sister-in-law’s nursing home voted to be represented by a union. It’s been four years now and no positive benefits have resulted. She told me that if she had to go back and do it over again, she would have not voted for it. She also says that the dues are really hurting her financially.