Letter on the Chamber's Publication, The Employee Free Choice Act: Piercing the Rhetoric

July 6, 2009 TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, is pleased to present you with our latest publication, The Employee Free Choice Act: Piercing the Rhetoric.

The Chamber published this because so many of the arguments in support of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA; H.R. 1409, S. 560) are not related to the substance of the bill. This publication takes an analytical approach and examines each of the bill's three provisions: card check certification for union organizing; compulsory interest arbitration of first contracts; and increased penalties on employers only. After a careful review of each provision, it concludes that no part of EFCA can be justified and that it is in the best interests of employees and employers alike that EFCA never be enacted.

While it is clear that EFCA has lost some support in Congress, various discussions are taking place to find an alternative or "compromise." However, EFCA supporters insist that any alternative will not deviate significantly from the bill as introduced, so this analysis will remain crucial to evaluating the merits of these proposals.

The Chamber hopes you will find the information in this publication helpful as Congress considers this seriously flawed proposal.

Sincerely,

R. Bruce Josten