Labor Unions' Top Priority Faces Delay

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JANUARY 7, 2009

Labor Unions' Top Priority Faces Delay
By KRIS MAHER
WSJ

Unions likely won't see action soon on legislation that would make it easier to organize workers, but Democrats are moving to back a pair of less-controversial bills that would facilitate filing discrimination suits against employers. Labor had hoped the Obama administration would take up the Employee Free Choice Act within its first 100 days. The bill would let unions register members by collecting signatures on cards rather than through elections. But itsnactment now appears doubtful.

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Congress seems more inclined to pursue less-volatile labor issues, including two this week. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act would extend the statute of limitations under civil-rights laws for bringing suits against employers over pay. The Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen remedies under the Equal Pay Act of 1963 for women.

The business lobby opposes the measures, saying they will lead to frivolous lawsuits and saddle companies with higher legal expenses. Randel Johnson of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce called the bills "low-hanging fruit," when compared with the Employee Free Choice Act. He said Democrats are acting too quickly on the measures and that new members of Congress won't have time to understand them.

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