Is Employee Free Choice dead?

[Hannah Bell]

THE FIGHT for the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) appears to be stumbling, with Corporate America increasingly confident that it will defeat the most "controversial" parts of the pro-union legislation.

If passed in its current form, EFCA would make it easier to form unions by giving workers the option of gaining representation when a simple majority of employees signs union cards, a method often called "card check." EFCA would also increase fines on employers for violating workers' right to organize and make it harder for companies to weasel out of initial union contracts by imposing binding arbitration if negotiations stall.

Now, however, a rotten compromise on EFCA--if not its outright defeat--is looking more and more likely.

Back in November, it seemed as if there was a perfect storm to win the law. Barack Obama had won the White House, the Democrats increased their majority in Congress, and there was widespread anger over the financial meltdown and government bailout of the big banks. But just seven months later, efforts to pass EFCA have faltered.

http://socialistworker.org/2009/06/03/is-employee-free-choice-dead