Protect yourself and your company against the Employee Free Choice Act!
Missouri Chamber President and CEO Dan Mehan speaks about the dangers of the Employee Free Choice Act and what Missourians should do to oppose it.
With the federal government poised to consider passing the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), now is the
time to inform yourself and others about EFCA.
Concerned Missourians must fight back against this perilous proposal, which is supported by several of Missouri’s Congressional members (see a list of cosponsors in the House and Senate).
The act threatens to undermine the proven union election process that has been in place for decades.
As originally proposed, the bill's most publicized provision would have effectively eliminated the traditional secret ballot process allowing organizers to bypass an election entirely and force unionization based solely on a card check process.However, federal lawmakers reportedly have considered forgoing the "card check" provision, instead focusing on other aspects of the bill.
This shift in the debate still leaves several very dangerous proposals on the table that could do great harm to the way businesses and unions interact.
As the bill’s title shows, the aim of the bill remains to "amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an easier system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations …"
Learn more about EFCA from this book by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Among the dangerous provisions remaining in the legislation is language that could greatly speed up the union election time frame. Currently, the bill states that employers negotiating their first contract with a union would also be locked into reaching a deal within 90 days under the EFCA regulations. If a deal is not reached, or if either party stalls, the dispute is forwarded to government regulators for mediation. If a deal still isn’t reached in 30 days, a government arbitrator simply writes a binding two-year contract.
Federal lawmakers are also considering giving union officials the right to come onto company property. In addition, lawmakers may also disallow a company's right to require employees to attend a meeting where the employer tells the company's side of the unionization debate.
The legislation also proposes heavier fines and penalties on employers.
With the bill still being debated and formed, it is likely new provisions will still be added and removed. Now is the time to let our elected officials know that the many provisions still in the EFCA legislation will do great harm to our nation's economy.
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is spearheading a grassroots effort in Missouri to stop this dangerous proposal from becoming law.
“It would be foolhardy to pass such job-killing legislation at any time, and particularly in this economy, which is struggling to regain jobs and find its footing after a severe downturn,” said Daniel P. Mehan, Missouri Chamber president and CEO. “In Missouri, we believe this is a time when the government should be working to help get people back to work, but this legislation only increases costs and regulation. It can only hurt our state’s and nation’s economy, which comes at the detriment of businesses trying to create jobs and workers seeking employment.”
Learn more
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-Read bill text and summaries of the EFCA legislation, which are available online, House and Senate.
-Get indepth information from the free book Piercing the Rhetoric, by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
-Review more resources from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Get involved
-Sign upto stay up to date with any new developments on the Missouri Chamber's fight against EFCA.
-Volunteer to get involved in the Missouri Chamber's effort to stop dangerous EFCA legislation.
-Donate money to help the Missouri Chamber fight EFCA.
-Share your story about how you or your company stands to be impacted by the Employee Free Choice Act.
Protectyour company Employers who wait on the sidelines during the EFCA debate could be in danger as cards being signed right now may count toward the majority needed after the legislation's possible passage.Learn about what you can do now to protect your company.
For more information, or to learn about additional ways you can fight back against EFCA, contact Dan Mehan or Trey Davis at the Missouri Chamber at 573.634.3511.
