From AAIA Capital Report

Two months after being introduced in both chambers of Congress, and given recent news of less-than-complete support from Democrats, the fate of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) remains uncertain. Given the waning support and the apparent inability of supporters to obtain a filibuster-proof 60 Senate votes on the bill as it stands, some proponents of EFCA have begun talking about various compromise alternatives to the bill.

The bills that were introduced in March, H.R. 1409 and S. 560, would, if enacted, amend the National Labor Relations Act to require the National Labor Relations Board to allow a company to unionize if a majority of their employees sign a union authorization card (known as card check), effectively stripping the worker of their time-honored right to a private ballot and would have contract negotiations handled by a government-appointed arbitrator. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa..), new Democrat and previously the only Republican to vote in favor of EFCA last Congress, last month stated that, despite his new party affiliation, he would not support EFCA as drafted. To date, six other Democratic senators, Sens. Thomas Carper (Del.); Mark Pryor (Ark); Dianne Feinstein (Calif.); Ben Nelson (Neb.); Michael Bennet (Colo.); and Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), also expressed concerns about the current proposal.

While several parties on each side of the debate remain resolute in their stance against any compromise, some of the alternatives that have been proposed in recent weeks have sought to include everything from eliminating the card check and arbitration provisions to regulating labor contact with employees before an election and expediting representation elections.

For more information on EFCA, visit the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace at www.myprivateballot.org.