Card-check may be stripped from "Card Check" Employee Free Choice Act bill !!!

[Better Believe It]

- And it still probably won't pass the Senate even if enough votes are obtained to invoke cloture. So shall we now call this the "non-card check bill"? -

Card-check may be stripped from bill
There are not enough votes to gain its passage.
By Holly Rosenkrantz
Bloomberg News
May 5, 2009

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, who sponsored legislation to make it easier for workers to join unions, has said the main provision of the proposal may have to be dropped to get the votes to pass it.

There is not enough support for a provision called card-check that would allow workers to bypass an election and form a union when a majority of them sign cards requesting one, Harkin said yesterday in an interview.

"Compromises are going to be made," said Harkin, an Iowa Democrat. "It probably won't be card-check, because too many people are opposed to it now."

The legislation stalled in the Senate after several lawmakers whose votes would be needed to overcome Republican opposition, such as Sen. Blanche Lincoln, an Arkansas Democrat, said they would not support the measure. Companies such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark., have led opposition.

Labor groups spent $100 million last year to elect Democrats and have made passing the card-check measure their top goal in Washington this year. President Obama supports the bill. The legislation doesn't have enough backing in the Senate to overcome efforts by Republican opponents to block a vote.

A softened version of the bill may attract support from more lawmakers, Harkin said.

Please read the complete article at:

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20090505_Card-check_may_be_stripped_from_bill.html

[TheKentuckian]

1. Is there any point or benefit to such a bill without the card check option?

What is Harkin actually trying to get passed at this point?

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. Yes

It would increase penalties against employers who interfere with employee attempts to unionize.

[T Wolf]

3. Nothing worth spit. But then the "Dems" can lie to us and say they really do support workers.

The difference between the two parties is what again...?

[quiller4]

5. Protection against employer retaliation is worth much more than "spit". n/t

[Better Believe It]

6. What protection are you writing about? Fines? That just the cost doing business.

Better to pay higher fines for union busting than the long-term costs (wages, benefits) of a union contract.

It's just part of the costs of doing business!

[quiller4]

9. Not just fines but arbitration mandate to prevent employers

from stalling and failing to negotiate a first contract.

[quiller4]

4. Absolutely. The arbitration clause is much more significant.

Changing the percentage of sign cards required to kick in the card check provision is also a possibility. Unions have been getting push back from members who want elections but protection from employer pressure and the elimination of captive meetings. A compromise bill could still really help organizing efforts and there are several possibilities being floated.

[AngryAmish]

7. The arbitration clause is huge

It used to be you could vote in a union and the employer would not negociate.

Now they have to negociate or else.

I'm thinking of starting up another union - it is made that much easier.

[Better Believe It]

8. There is even stronger opposition to compulsory arbitration.

It'll probably be stripped out. But, without card check recognition it won't matter much.

So what's being "floated" and links please?

[snowdays]

10. THANKS. K and r

[fugop]

11. Specter

Wonder where Specter would stand on this, and if it would change his insistence not to vote for it. Anyone know if he was opposed mostly to card check, or the whole thing?