EFCA Watch - Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Although health-care reform has been a goal of union leaders for quite some time, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) remains their top priority. The fact that there has yet to be even a committee vote on the measure - due in part to the current health-care debate - merely intensifies their efforts in seeking passage of the card-check legislation.

But it's not only the health-care debate that labor believes has stalled passage of this jobs-killing bill; it's also the length of time it took for the Senate to obtain a filibuster-proof roster. Labor believes both the contested Minnesota Senate seat ultimately won by Democrat Al Franken, as well as the death of Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), have caused further delay.

Whatever the case, union leaders remain hopeful that the EFCA will emerge as a congressional priority following the health-care debate. And while it is unclear whether Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has been able to establish language that will be acceptable by moderates in his caucus, midterm elections will make the endeavor that much more unpredictable.

Nonetheless, the MBA remains committed to opposing this bill, as it would negatively impact worker's rights to a democratic process in the workplace.

Union leaders are focusing on the EFCA as one of their top legislative priorities in 2010. Now is the time to act. Contact your legislator TODAY and urge them to OPPOSE the EFCA in any form, including proposed "alternatives" or compromises.  This measure not only would interfere with the democratic process, but also would force private enterprise to agree to contract terms or face government intervention and, ultimately, binding wage and benefit terms established by the government.
  
We also encourage you to use the resources available in the MBA's EFCA Toolkit to assist your efforts.