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The
Employee Free Choice Act: Who Benefits? 3-13-07 - MP3
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed, the U.S. Senate
will consider, and the Bush Administration has pledged to veto,
a bill entitled the "Employee Free Choice Act." The
legislation would be the most significant federal labor law revision
in decades. Proponents argue that by enabling employees to form
a union without the formality of secret ballot elections, the
bill will provide greater protection against what some believe
to be coercive employer conduct during union organizing campaigns.
Opponents argue that if workers are not able to vote in private,
they will be subject to undue pressure from unions (and from some
employers), and that waning union membership is due to the decreasing
benefits of unionization rather than to employer misconduct. Other
notable provisions in the bill include mandatory federal mediation
at the request of either party if a newly-organized company and
the union cannot agree on a first contract, with the contract
terms being determined by an arbitrator if agreement is not reached
in mediation. Our panel of experts will discuss the pros and cons
of the pending bill, and competing bills, and their likelihood
of ultimate passage.
Panelists include:
- Hon. Sarah M. Fox, Of Counsel, Bredhoff & Kaiser,
P.L.L.C. and former member, National Labor Relations Board
- Brent Garren, Senior Associate Counsel, UNITE HERE
- Charlotte L. Montiel, Deputy Director, U.S. Senate
Republican Steering Committee
- Hon. John N. Raudabaugh, Baker & McKenzie LLP and
former member, National Labor Relations Board
- Hon. John S. Irving, Of Counsel, Kirkland & Ellis
and former General Counsel, National Labor Relations Board,
Moderator
Date: Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Location: Capitol Hill Club
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