The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), if passed, will allow union organizers to opt for a card check process instead of a secret ballot election.
Basically, union organizers would approach employees asking for a signature to elect to bring in the union. This strong-arm tactic removes all privacy from the employee while making this important decision.
Why change a system that is already favored by non-union and union workers?
A recent Zogby poll found that 71 percent of union members believe that the current private-ballot process is fair. A McLaughlin & Associates poll found that 74 percent of union members favor keeping the current system in place over replacing it with one that provides less privacy.
In addition, if the union receives a majority vote among employees, the contract between the employer and the union can be mandated by the federal arbitration board. This means the federal government can dictate wages, retirement rules, benefits and working conditions for a period of two years. Translated, the government can take over American businesses.
This is important legislation to follow to preserve the rights of employees and businesses. Click here for more information from SHRM on the EFCA proposed legislation.
Is this still a big issue? I have not heard much about this.
Posted by: Seth | August 28, 2009 at 02:21 PM
Seth,
Since the card check provision was dropped from the EFCA bill, I haven't heard much about it. The truth is there is still a lot in the bill that threatens businesses. Here is a link to the latest information I found. http://www.franchise.org/Franchise-News-Detail.aspx?id=46624
My guess is that this will come back around.
It's still one to watch.
Posted by: Christine Miller | September 04, 2009 at 02:35 PM