Many of our clients are closely following the Employee Free Choice Act legislation. We will keep you updated on new developments with this hot topic!
On March 24, 2009, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) announced that he does not support the so-called Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), or “card check” legislation, and that he would vote against cutting off debate on the bill. The Employee Free Choice Act was introduced on March 10 by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) in the U.S. Senate and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 2007, Senator Specter was the only Republican who voted in favor of closing debate during the last EFCA vote in the Senate. Since then, Specter has been courted heavily by both organized labor in support of the bill and business opposing it. After weighing both sides, Senator Specter has reversed his position. This is good news for anti-union businesses in North Carolina.
Under the card check process, employees would be forced to indicate their choice of whether to join a union by signing a card in front of their co-workers, employers, and union organizers. In addition, the bill would subject businesses to binding arbitration, where government appointed arbitrators would establish a two-year contract setting all work rules for that business without giving the company’s employees or owner the opportunity to approve or appeal the decision.
Contact your representatives today to let them know how you feel about this legislation! Click here to find your North Carolina representatives!