Thinking Outside The Box to Get The Employee Free Choice Act EFCA Passed

[Omaha Steve]

http://cleveland.indymedia.org/news/2009/03/36091.php

By Employee Free Choice Act / EFCAPrwire News Monday, Mar. 30, 2009 at 12:43 AM

EFCA: Thinking outside of the box by using a shotgun approach to the Employee Free Choice Act rather than all your Easter eggs in one basket approach corporate front groups would now be in a tailspin trying to stop a dam ready to burst



Employee Free Choice Act / EFCAPrwire News: Thinking Outside The Box to Get The Employee Free Choice Act EFCA Passed! http://efcanow.blogspot.com/

Over the last few weeks while many corporate front groups like the Coalition For Democratic Workplace, Save our Secret Ballot and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Smile and grin on the fact that Senator Arlen Specter (R - PA).and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) have retreated from supporting the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) in its present form, both labor leaders at the forefront of this fight and George Miller (D - CA)., Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and Sen. Thomas Harkin must start thinking outside of the box to get the Employee Free Choice Act EFCA passed.

One way to do this is to introduce separate bills in both the House and the Senate based on some of the provisions of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).Both Senator Arlen Specter and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) have indicated they would seek alternative legislation that was less divisive.

By separating the Employee Free Choice Act into mini bills vs. its entirety the big business corporate front groups would have less to attack.

Snip: 1. Majority Sign up based on a dual card membership card.

Under this proposal the employee would choose either to have his union membership card be used for a petition to be filed on his behalf by a labor organization to conduct a secret ballot election by the National Labor Relations Board or he or she may desire to waive their right to a secret ballot election by indicating that they wish to have their union membership card be used for the purposes of having a card check under the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Press Here for more on this.



FULL story at link.

[pinto]

1. kick

:kick:

[lsewpershad]

2. May not be outside

the box but worth thinking about. Millions out in the streets in support EFCA.

[Nipper1959]

3. I wrote an editorial

about EFCA fir the local paper and it was run in 3 others.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990327063

[54anickel]

4. I just got a reply from Herb Kohl. Makes no sense to me, like he's talking out of

both sides of his mouth...maybe I'm not getting it.



As you know, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)
would amend the National Labor Relations Act to change the way
employees form or become members of labor organizations.
Specifically, the EFCA recognizes a union when a majority of
employees have signed an authorization card. Twenty days after a
union presents its cards to the employer, contract negations must
begin. If the union and employer have not agreed to a contract
within the first ninety days of negotiation, the process will move to
arbitration through the Federal Mediation Service. The bill also
strengthens penalties for employee rights' violations when
businesses engage in unfair labor practices, including firing union
organizers or threatening workers.

As a business man, I understand the concerns of people
who are worried about the erosion of the secret ballot in this bill.
At the same time, we need to protect the employee's right to form
a union. Today, of all the industrialized countries in the world, the
U.S. has the lowest rate of unionization. Unions are an important
part of our democracy and our economy. In the 1970's when
union membership was at an all time high, the middle class was
thriving. Unions helped create the middle class in this country and
without them middle class wages will continue to stagnate.

I am hopeful that we can pass a bill that strikes a fair
balance for the workers and employers in this country. Be assured I
will keep your thoughts in mind should the Senate debate this bill.




Sincerely,


Herb Kohl
U.S. Senator