Card-check compromise draws criticism

A potential compromise for the labor movement’s No. 1 legislative priority this Congress is earning harsh reviews from a number
of industry-affiliated groups that have lobbied against the bill.

Three of America’s biggest brand-name companies — Costco, Starbucks and Whole
Foods — are reportedly planning to announce an alternative next week to the
Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which would help workers organize much more
easily into unions if passed.

{mosads}The compromise would allow workers to bypass secret ballot elections to form a
union if 70 percent of them sign authorization cards stating their intention to
organize. In the current version of the bill, workers could organize into a
union if 50 percent of them sign cards.

Business associations often refer to that provision of the bill as “card
check.” Other provisions of the legislation also worry industry, such as one
that would have a government-appointed arbitrator step into negotiations
between companies and their unions if they cannot draw up a contract within 120
days. 

One advocate opposed to EFCA said the compromise on the bill was unacceptable.

“Every worker in America has the right to a secret ballot vote in union-organizing elections, free from intimidation or recrimination,” said Katie
Packer, executive director of the Workforce Fairness Institute. “Calling a
proposal which exposes 70 percent of employees to intimidation instead of 50
percent a ‘compromise’ is beyond absurd.”

Others said the proposed deal was not a true compromise. Instead, they said the
companies were trying to appease powerful labor unions by helping to get the
bill passed by Congress.

“These companies should be standing up for the basic rights of their employees
instead of kowtowing to the union bosses — or cutting backroom deals trying to
protect their narrow interests,” said Mark Mix, president of the National Right
to Work Committee. “One thing that is for sure: should this scheme lead to passage
of a bill that forces more workers into monopoly unions, these companies’
blatant disregard for their own consumers won’t soon be forgotten.”

EFCA is the most important piece of legislation for the labor movement this
Congress. America’s largest unions, such as the AFL-CIO and the Service
Employees International Union, campaigned heavily for the bill this past
election and supported candidates who backed it as well.

Many labor officials see the legislation as necessary to reverse the decline in
union membership over the past several years. They say if more workers could
unionize, they would be able to negotiate with management for better wages and
benefits.

But business trade associations have lobbied heavily against the bill. More
strikes and work stoppages would happen if the bill passed due to more
unionized workers slowing down if not bankrupting several businesses, they
say.

Those arguments from the business community have found some resonance in
Congress. Several Blue Dog Democrats and centrist Democratic senators who
signed onto EFCA last Congress are not co-sponsoring the bill this time.

EFCA was easily passed the House last time it came to a vote in 2007. But the
legislation failed in the Senate, only earning 51 votes for cloture. Sen. Arlen
Specter (R-Pa.) was the only Republican to join Democrats in supporting the
procedural motion.

The bill has backing from congressional leaders, however, as well as the White
House. Both President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden have called
for the bill to be passed.

Tags Barack Obama

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