U.S. Chamber Study Exposes What Unions Don't Want You to Know About Card Check

Comprehensive Analysis Reveals EFCA is a Radical Threat to Balanced Labor Laws

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As the Senate's leading supporters of the misnamed Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) push for a vote on the bill, a comprehensive analysis of how its three major components would dramatically change existing labor laws without justification was released today by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"The leading arguments in favor of EFCA are based on shrill rhetoric castigating employers," said Randel Johnson, vice president of Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits at the U.S. Chamber. "However, facts do matter. The more people learn about EFCA, the less they like it. This analysis will provide an important contribution to the debate over EFCA by taking a measured and analytical approach to demonstrate that this bill is not justified and is not in the best interest of employees or employers."

The Employee Free Choice Act: Piercing the Rhetoric provides a comprehensive analysis of EFCA and how it would change existing labor laws. This review, prepared with the help of Martin F. Payson, Michael J. Lotito, and Harold R. Weinrich with the law firm Jackson Lewis LLP, critiques each of EFCA's three provisions: Card check certification for union organizing, compulsory interest arbitration of first contracts, and increased penalties on employers.

"Supporters of EFCA have been quick to demonize employers and mischaracterize existing law," Johnson said. "But you won't find the union leadership discussing the details of the bill, if they can help it. This is because changes to its major three components represent the most radical threat to balanced labor law in decades."

"This analysis is written for non-lawyers, because it's important that everyone understands the consequences of these issues," Johnson said. "While there are many discussions about potential compromises on EFCA, these alternatives are largely derived from the original version of EFCA and the analysis we're releasing today will remain crucial to evaluating the merits of these proposals."

The complete study is available at: http://www.uschamber.com/publications/reports/0906efca.htm

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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