The Reshaping of America’s Labor Pool

Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) hailed as a Union payoff

The bill is designed to release the strangle hold the National Labor Relations has on the voting process and remove employer oversight of the process. Goal of the bill is to create a more efficient system where employees are free to form, join, and participate without reprisal from an employer.

If  it passes employers will need to know and adhere to the new rules of the Union game. Under the new law, workers would be able to decide whether to hold a secret ballot vote on union formation after a majority of employees have signed union authorization cards, or to have the union certified based on the cards alone. Under the current rules, employers have the power to make that decision. This bill is organized labor’s number one legislative priority, and heavily opposed by employers in specific industries in the business world.

Union officials are prepared to spend millions of dollars and countless hours to ensure the bill becomes law. Applying a bit of pressure on Congress and with the support of President Obama it is likely to sail through sooner rather than later this year. Although many observers predict Obama’s focus is on the economic crisis delaying action on the bill, some say that’s simply wishful thinking.

The legislative wheel turns very slowly and which of the remaining labor bills will become law is anyone’s guess.  President Obama must make good on a few campaign promises and soon.  Of the remaining labor bills awaiting his signature most likely to pass this year is the EFCA. Passage of the bill will satisfy the Union by adding more than 1 million new members to its rolls each year.