Issues

Oppose the Employee Free Choice Act

Position

Last year, the misnamed “Employee Free Choice Act“ (EFCA) was introduced in Congress. The Chamber Action Network opposes this legislation, which would effectively eliminate the use of secret ballots in union organizing efforts and replace it with a “card check system.”

The Maryland Chamber opposes this bill for three reasons:

Card Check: Currently, the most common method for determining whether or not employees want a union to represent them is a secret ballot election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The NLRB provides detailed procedures that ensure a fair election, free of fraud, where employees may cast their vote confidentially without peer pressure or coercion from unions or employers. EFCA would replace this process with a process called “card check,” where a union is recognized in a workplace if a majority of workers sign a card in the presence of union organizers and fellow employees who support unionization.

Binding Arbitration: Currently, employers and unions are free to bargain as they please, without any legal obligation to reach agreement, so long as they both act in good faith. EFCA would also impose contract terms on private, unionized employers through compulsory, binding arbitration if the employer and a newly certified union are unable to reach a first contract within a specified amount of time. This would limit the employer’s bargaining power and cost management critical leverage the negotiating the initial contract with the newly-formed union.

Harsh, One-Sided Penalties: Card Check would impose harsh new penalties on businesses--but not on unions--for violations during the union recognition process. This is unfair, and potentially disastrous for small or medium businesses, who are not familiar with unionizing campaigns or the National Labor Relations Act. If Card Check passes, many of these businesses would be facing unionization for the first time.

Take Action

Contact your Senators and Representative and urge them to oppose the Employee Free Choice Act. Click here to take action.

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