The Employee Free Choice Act legislation would assist employees in creating and organizing local job unions. The act requires employers to recognize unions once a majority of employees have signed a card system of support. The current practice of secret-ballot votes would be altered to provide more unionization power to the employee. Current federal labor law allows companies to influence employees with "unfair" independent opposition campaigns.
Specter Flip Flop
In March 2009, Pennsylvanian Republican Senator Arlen Specter announced his opposition to the bill despite supporting a similar bill in years passed. Specter said that it was "a particularly bad time" to pass such a bill since it could cost jobs in a time of recession and rising unemployment rates. Many speculated that his opposition to the bill could cause a loss of votes from laborers in his planned 2010 reelection bid.Reuters: Republican opposes US labor bill, may doom measure
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Enables employees to form and organize unions without unfair opposition from employer
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Employer must recognize union if majority of employees sign support cards
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Current secret ballot unionization system allows employer to use unfair opposition
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Opposition calls card system undemocratic
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Strongly supported by Barack Obama
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2007 bill passed House, defeated in Senate after Republican filibuster
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New congress will likely have opportunity for vote on Act
