Employee Free Choice Act: Key Senators Express Reservations

The Employee Free Choice Act was introduced in Congress on Tuesday, marking the official launch of what promises to be a fierce legislative battle.

Labor officials seem confident that the process is in place to pass this union priority. "Obama, Biden, and Solis all wouldn't support it in one week and have introduced the next if we didn't have 60 votes or were really close," said one person working on the bill's passage. But the early feedback presents a more difficult reality.

Several key Senators are on the record Tuesday offering either reservations or merely lukewarm support for the legislation.

Speaking after a fundraiser in Pennsylvania, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) told the press that it was "big stuff" to "take away the secret ballot." It's a false rendering of EFCA (the bill keeps the secret ballot but also allows majority sign-up elections to form a union), but the skepticism from Specter, the only Senate Republican to vote for passage in 2007, was nevertheless noticeable.

"Jobs are being exported," he said. "We have problems with pensions and health care. To take away the secret ballot is big stuff. I'm listening to all of the viewpoints very carefully. I have a hunch we'll vote this spring."

On the Democratic side of the aisle, the Wall Street Journal managed to get both Arkansas senators on the record, though without either expressing a clear preference.

"I have 90,000 Arkansans who need a job, that's my No. 1 priority," said Blanche Lincoln. The legislation, she added, would be "divisive and we don't need that right now. We need to focus on the things that are more important."

And from Mark Pryor came this: "This legislation is not perfect, and while I have been supportive in the past, I will consider amendments to make it better if and when it is considered by the Senate."

Meanwhile, the progressive site DownWithTyranny notes that a whole host of House Democrats, primarily of the Blue Dog variety, have announced that they won't be co-sponsoring the bill -- even though they supported it just one year ago. The list includes:

Artur Davis (AL), Marion Berry (Blue Dog-AR), Mike Ross (Blue Dog-AR), Vic Snyder (AR), Harry Mitchell (AZ), Gabby Gifford (Blue Dog-AZ), Mike Thompson (Blue Dog-CA), Jim Costa (Blue Dog-CA), Ron Klein (FL), Jim Marshall (Blue Dog-GA), John Barrow (Blue Dog-GA), Joe Donnelly (Blue Dog-IN), Brad Ellsworth (Blue Dog-IN), Baron Hill (Blue Dog-IN), Ben Chandler (Blue Dog-KY), G.K. Butterfield (NC), Bob Etheridge (NC), Heath Shuler (Blue Dog-NC), Earl Pomeroy (Blue Dog-ND), Shelley Berkley (NV), Chris Carney (Blue Dog-PA), Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (Blue Dog-SD), Lincoln Davis (Blue Dog-TN), Bart Gordon (Blue Dog-TN), Jim Cooper (Blue Dog-TN), Steve Cohen (TN), Chet Edwards (TX), Henry Cuellar (TX), and Jim Matheson (Blue Dog-UT).

Comments

[RandVictims]

12:23 PM on 03/12/2009

What many white collar workers don't understand is that strong labor unions set the parity for ALL wages, salaries under executive levels.

I would think (hope) that white collar workers have seen the trends, of the worker abuse and exploitation working it's way up the pyramid:

First it was general labor
- "They should trained for skilled labor!"

Then it was skilled labor
- "They should have went into IT"

Then it was low-level IT workers (worker visas and outsourcing - 80% of IT U.S. jobs gone)
- "Well, they should have got their undergrad"

Then it was certified IT
- "Well, they should have got their MBA"

...Finance
-"They should have got their CPA"

Now first level executives are feeling it.

All these jobs are being done by penny or even slave labor and the only option we're given is to "compete" with that. Are you willing to "COMPETE" for penny jobs??

The corporate establishment **used working-class tax dollars** to spread "Reagan-style democracy" to 3rd world countries (pry open markets, steal resources) then they exploited the target countries for slave labor to DUMP the products on the U.S. to further bleed us dry.

The EFCA is a **very good first-step** in helping to assure the status-quo corporate pirates have less power to abuse U.S. workers and dump slave labor products on U.S. consumers with their own tax dollars.

The EFCA will help make life better for 95%+ of Americans, - I know I'm confident about it.

[buckeyedave]

11:23 PM on 03/10/2009

what is wrong with the secret ballot system system? why do we need the EFCA? what is wrong with letting each individual worker cast his vote completely in secret? supporter say this bill is not designed to bypass this system but it is exactly that. With the EFCA unions could come into any business and ask workers to sign the the card in front of everybody and put a tremendous amount of peer pressure of those who would otherwise vote no. this not about free choice, it is simply to give unions bullying power.

[artisthawk]

09:52 PM on 03/11/2009

Now the employer has the advantage of deciding when to have the election and can take time to bully as you say the people who want to discuss or vote on the union. People have been fired and intimidated if they want to discuss or vote on a union. People will visit them and tell them it would not be wise for them to pursue getting a union. The new way, the union can hand an employee a card and the employee can do what he wants with it.

[artisthawk]

09:53 PM on 03/11/2009

the word choice in the Act means they will have a choice to vote or to sign a card.

[toypiano]

10:45 PM on 03/10/2009

Republicans have hinted that the RNC will not support re-election campaigns of the repubs who vote in favor of EFCA, and will replace them in the next election.

May I suggest we do the same for the dems who vote against EFCA? Let your senators and representatives know you expect them to vote for EFCA and their future career in Congress is on the line.

Last thing: The Employee Free Choice Act does not, repeat does NOT, remove the secret-ballot option for unionizing. The EFCA actually includes the secret-ballot option and adds provisions for allowing a majority to use sign-ups to unionize as well. Republicans know this but are trying to spread disinformation, as usual. Don't let 'em!

[artisthawk]

09:57 PM on 03/11/2009

Thanks. We have to push back on those who do not understand this is for the middle class union or non union. We will all benefit in the middle class. As union representation went down, so did the wages of the middle class until we now need a two income family just to survive.

[cobra7]

01:33 AM on 03/13/2009

I agree. If those Blue Dog Democrats want to vote against this, we can vote them out. Also why don't they change party affiliation because they sound like those Republicans. When I first heard the term Blue Dog Democrats, I said to myself, Oh, you mean those Democrats in Republican clothing. Vote them out. How come most of them represent the southern states with the exception of Arizona. Since Blue Dog Democrats is a 21st century terminology, it means that back in the 20th century they were known as Dixiecrats.

[Rmtns]

10:34 PM on 03/10/2009

How about this, let's sign up to pledge to NOT support the Senators and Congressmen that won't support EFCA, and pledge to support the primary opponents as well as the opponents in the general election? And let's publish this list as an addendum to this article!

[superfrog]

09:59 PM on 03/10/2009

The repulicans do not want a middle class in this country that is why they are against unions.

[bantrybay]

09:56 PM on 03/10/2009

Spector is a liar and has taken labor on a ride for many years in Penn. DUMP him, he lies and bs's ablout supporting labor but does nothing and Nelson is more republican than Spector. Sad men.

[Skeetshooter]

09:29 PM on 03/10/2009

Specter and all the other misrepresentors of this legislation had better get one thing straight: The working folk of this country are in no mood to trust in the kindness of corporations or their congressional cronies. Where democracy is concerned it's put up or shut up time.

[denny8844]

09:49 PM on 03/10/2009

The list of Dems opposing this gives me hope for the Democratic Party Banana Republics and the USSR didnt allow secret ballots.

[findmind]

10:21 PM on 03/10/2009

The secret ballot IS still an option...despite all the liars that will tell you otherwise. Republicans are concerned about one thing....and that's making sure the middle class is kept down.

[zippywpinhead]

10:32 PM on 03/10/2009

actually the USSR DID have secret ballots- despite that fact, their elections were obviously not fair or impartial. This of course shows how disingenuous the whole argument that secret ballots are somehow infallible and therefore inherently more fair really is- it's nothing more than fear mongering. Also, as others have pointed out, EFCA DOES NOT ELIMINATE the option of secret ballot- that is yet more fear mongering and is patently false.

Why you people continue to spout myths, falsehoods and outright l.ies is beyond me. Unless you are a business owner who hires a large number of employees who would be eligible to organize and you're too cheap to pay them a decent wage, i can't imagine why anyone would oppose the EFCA. Maybe you just h.ate your neighbors and want to deny them the opportunity to be successful in life...

[OBXartist]

08:58 PM on 03/10/2009

The EFCA does not, I repeat, DOES NOT prohibit secret ballots for elections on whether to form a union. There is such an unquestioned anti-union stance in the South, even among the people who would most benefit from a union, that this disinformation campaign needs to be exposed at every opportunity. This is the Big Lie, folks!

[sueinmn]

09:32 PM on 03/10/2009

Just like those Toyota republicans. You might as well bang your head up against a brick wall as to try to get through to these people. They have theirs eyes closed, their ears closed and they are apparently mindless to look further than todays paycheck and how fast they can get to the bank. (to prevent an overdraft fee) Strong red states keep the education costs down or these people maybe could understand what is good for their families and co workers.

[musselmanm]

08:08 PM on 03/10/2009

Got to get to work to defeat Heathbar Shuler here in NC.

[OBXartist]

08:54 PM on 03/10/2009

Shuler is just about as successful in Congress as he was as a Washington Redskins quarterback. What a doofus.

[limcy76]

08:00 PM on 03/10/2009

Simple, we maximize the pressure of congress to support the employee free choice act by contacting two or more congress people twice a week. So, step it up. Put your money where your mouth is.

[Gerald Shields]

07:54 PM on 03/10/2009

That means it's time to "lean" on those "Blue Dog" Dems. If you support the EFCA, then don't just complain about these folks, write letters to them if these folks are your congressman or senator. This is the best chance in a long time to pass this bill, after that, another chance may not come in your lifetime. Opposition to this is sure to be severely weaknend due to the recession's effect on special interest lobbying.

[ChiProgressive]

08:59 PM on 03/10/2009

http://www.senate.gov/

[chonus]

07:50 PM on 03/10/2009

I just called Sen. Ben NElson and left a message for him. I'm pis sed. He is done. He is going to feel the wrath of chonus.

[Irishkid]

08:16 PM on 03/10/2009

Ooooh, poor Ben!

[Progressive16]

07:23 PM on 03/10/2009

Republican's have been fighting unions since time immemorial and they aren't about to change. We would not have a middle class if it were strictly up to Republicans, and they are doing their very best to destroy the middle class we have.

[CaptainStormfield]

07:44 PM on 03/10/2009

Well said.

[jordan3189]

08:36 PM on 03/10/2009

I "sigh"

[skippypicasso]

07:07 PM on 03/10/2009

Cowards all. Sad. No wonder people abhor Congress and the job it's (not) doing.

[Daniboy]

07:22 PM on 03/10/2009

Vote them Dems out!

[cobra7]

01:37 AM on 03/13/2009

When you say vote the Dems out, you are talking about the Blue Dog variety..right?..just trying to make sure you know what you are talking about ...nuff said..

[jerryfromcalifornia]

07:04 PM on 03/10/2009

COWARD.