Depending on your political and economic views, it may or may not be welcome news to hear that on July 11 historic efforts will take place here in Little Rock -- and throughout Arkansas -- concerning passage of the Employee Free Choice Act 2009 also known as “card check” by those who oppose the bill.
On this day, “AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka will join 
Steelworkers President Leo Gerard and hundreds of union and civil rights activists and faith leaders in a statewide caravan, march, rally and catfish fry in Arkansas to call for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act,” reports Huffington Post.
Admittedly, many citizens – not limited to Little Rock – have not followed the EFCA closely but its public exposure is garnering new attention. What is the Employee Free Choice Act? Now in the Senate as bill S.560, the legislation would change the “rules governing the formation of unions, the way first contracts between unions and employers are negotiated, and how employees' rights are enforced.”
Further described by OpenCongress.org, under the bill “workers would be able to decide whether to hold a secret ballot vote on union formation after a majority of employees have signed union authorization cards, or to have the union certified based on the cards alone.”
Why is Arkansas so significant concerning the passage (or not) of the Employee Free Choice Act (S.560)?
With its right-to-work status and meager union membership, Arkansas is under the national spotlight as both Democratic Arkansas Senators Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln have pulled their support of S.560. Pryor has a new bill in mind and Lincoln already stated in April 2009 that she would oppose the bill in its current form.
Both Ark. senators have been aggressively targeted as swing votes by numerous campaigns and lobbyists. Without the support of Pryor and Lincoln a Republican filibuster is likely.
Meanwhile, much propoganda about S.560 exists on the Internet. Read multiple sources and cross check data to best become informed.
For more information on the Employee Free Choice Act 2009 bill and analysis for and against the bill see:
New online campaign for Employee Free Choice: Stand with working people, not greedy CEOs
“In addition to putting out the four web videos, the SEIU is also launching email campaigns targeting the five senators, with much the same message and aim.” – Service Employees International Union
AFL-CIO on the Employee Free Choice Act
The Truth About The Employee Free Choice Act
“The Free Enterprise Alliance and Associated Builders and Contractors are leading the campaign to educate Americans about the Employee Free Choice Act — a misnamed bill that would effectively strip the right to a secret ballot for employees deciding whether to join a union.” – thetruthaboutefca.com
The Case for More Union Power
Economic arguments against the EFCA don’t hold water.
Highlight: “On Feb. 25, 38 well-known economists, including notables like Jagdish Bhagwati and Robert Solow, announced their support for EFCA in an ad in the Washington Post, pointing out that from 2000 to 2007, "virtually all of the nation's economic growth went to a small number of wealthy Americans." Part of the problem, they argue, is "the erosion of workers' ability to form unions and bargain collectively." -- The Big Money
Dissecting Pros, Cons of Card-Check Legislation -- Workforce
The Arkansas Times Blog includes a copy of the letter from Academics for Employee Free Choice to Senators Pryor and Lincoln signed by more than 40 academics from across Arkansas, including 18 at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. “It clearly explains the reasons why we support enactment of the Employee Free Choice Act to make sure that the economic recovery includes everyone and allows working families to share in the American Dream of a better life for themselves and their children.” – Arkansas Blog
Track S. 560:
Employee Free Choice Act of 2009
Follow other Examiners who have written about the Employee Free Choice Act 2009.
Photo: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (AP)
Comments
We will watch and see how it goes. Thanks for the update.
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