My name is Steve Maritas. I am presently the Organizing Director for The International Union, Security Police and Fire Professionals of Amerca (SPFPA) www.SPFPA.org
I am also a Labor correspondent for Labour Start.
Organized labor's and my top legislative goal this year is passage of the federal Employee Free Choice Act, which would allow formation of a local labor union branch if a majority of employees sign union cards
The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is legislation in the United States which aims to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an easier system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes. Under current U.S. labor law, the National Labor Relations Board will certify a union as the exclusive representative of bargaining unit employees by card check process or secret ballot election, which is held if more than 30% of employees in a bargaining unit sign statements asking for representation by a union. If enacted, EFCA would require the NLRB to certify a bargaining representative without directing an election if a majority of the bargaining unit employees signed cards, the card check process.
The EFCA would contribute to economic recovery by making it easier for workers to bargain for improved wages, hours and working conditions. It would not take away the right of employees to vote on whether to form a union.
Since 1935, the law has provided two ways for employees to express the choice to be represented by a union: majority sign-up or a National Labor Relations Board election.
Employee sign-up was legal even before the National Labor Relations Act was passed. When a majority of employees had signed cards or petitions designating a union as their representative, the employer could legally negotiate with the representative. The act was interpreted as giving the company the right to decide whether the employees would choose a union through majority sign-up or through an election conducted on the company's premises.
The process of forming a union with or without the Employee Free Choice Act would remain the same.
The only difference would be if the Employee Free Choice Act should be passed is that:
The EFCA would give employees, rather than the company, the right to decide which method to use.
The passage of the Employee Free Choice Act is NOT about eliminating a Secret Ballot vote as opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act would like you to believe, its about the Employer LOSING their control to force an NLRB election if the majority of their employees wish to form a UNION and their inability to hire high priced Union-Busting consultants to conduct a 42 day Anti-Union Busting Intimidation FEAR Campaign against its workers!
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