June 18, 2009
Dear Friend,
Thank you for contacting me regarding Employee Free Choice Act. I greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important issue.
The Employee Free Choice Act (S.560/H.R.1409) was introduced on March 10, 2009, in both the Senate and House of Representatives, but it has not yet been voted on in either chamber.
Under current law, employees can form a union through the use of a secret-ballot election or by having a majority of workers sign cards indicating their interest in joining a union, a process known as majority sign-up. However, under current law employers are not necessarily required to abide by the outcome of the majority sign-up process. Instead, they can reject the majority sign-up and require a secret-ballot election. This bill would require employers to recognize a union formed through the majority sign-up process. It would also stiffen penalties for intimidation during the organizing process, and provide for mediation and arbitration of first-contract disputes after a specific timeframe.
There has been considerable debate and discussion on this legislation since the beginning of the 111th Congress. During the course of those discussions, it has become clear that the bill does not have the support it needs to pass in its current form. Given this situation, I am interested in examining potential alternative proposals to the Employee Free Choice Act that might garner more support among members of Congress, while still responding to the concerns this bill addresses. As conversations about this legislation continue, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to craft an appropriate solution.
Sincerely,
Kay R. Hagan
United States Senator, North Carolina
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