EFCA would make it easier for US workers to form unions. Can Barack Obama get it passed?

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jan/09/obama-unions-employee-free-choice-act

Obama's unpaid dues
The Employee Free Choice Act would make it easier for US workers to form unions. Can Barack Obama get it passed?

* Gregor Gall
* guardian.co.uk, Friday 9 January 2009 20.00 GMT

As Barack Obama's inauguration approaches, the political favours that he owes to getting him to where he is now are starting to be called in.

Witnessing, and detesting, the growing divide between rich and poor through the stagnation and fall in the real value of wage and benefits for workers, labour unions in the US are calling on Obama to make good on his promise to support the Employee Free Choice Act.

Unions laboured big-time for Obama and were key to his victory. They provided not only millions of dollars of campaign money but also activists to mobilise Americans to vote for Obama.

Already passed by the House of Representatives but parked in no man's land in the Senate, the Employee Free Choice Act would allow the playing field of employment relations to be levelled considerably. The main point of the act is to allow workers to use a card check system to gain union representation.

At the moment, the National Labour Relations Act of 1935 allows workers to vote on whether to have union representation if they get enough support from fellow workers to have an election. If they do, the election takes place through a secret ballot.

The overwhelming problem with this system is that the occasion of an election through secret ballot on a specific date and taking place on company premises allows the employers huge opportunities – which they take – to campaign against the will of workers. They often use threats and intimidation to prevent workers from organising. Every year some 23,000 workers are sacked or disciplined for campaigning for gaining union representation. Workers also face the threat of closure of their workplace if they vote in a union.

FULL story at link.

[bluestateguy]

1. Time is the enemy

If the unions don't have an equally strong mobilization and PR effort they WILL be steamrolled by the corporate alliance that is just licking their chops to demagogue this bill to death.

[FLAprogressive]

2. In the name of "bipartisanship" (capitulation) I'm sure it will get watered down.....

....into something that's absolutely worthless.

[Thrill]

3. This is the battle. Republicans are going to pick to fight Obama on.

Not the stimulus. But this is the bill, where its going to get really nasty in the Senate and House.
You can tell by how tough they were questioning Hilda Solis

[demosincebirth]

4. I agree. The repugs will fight it like pitbulls

The only dem I could think of voting against it is the senator from La. Mary Landrieu

[Thrill]

6. I think she voted for it last time. I think all Dems voted for it. And Specter the only Repuke

If that holds this time. They can beat a filibuster.

[demosincebirth]

7. I hope so. This is such important legislation.

And it won't cost the government a cent

[Uzybone]

5. Yeah, it'll be passed

We have the votes in the Senate now.