EFCA

“Hopefully we’re going to get the bill through sometime this fall, now that we hopefully have the 60 votes.” – Senate HELP Committee Chairman, Sen. Tom Harkin, The Hill 9/29/09

October 23, 2009

State of Play

· SEIU attorney Craig Becker has been nominated to serve on the powerful National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Former NLRB Chairman William Gould has noted that Becker could seek to impose the EFCA’s “card check” provision through the Board. The NAM first urged the Senate HELP Committee to hold a hearing, and has now requested that Becker’s nomination be opposed. Click here for more information.

· Senate HELP Committee Chairman, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Sen. Arlen Specter both recently stated that there had been a deal reached to develop an alternative form of the EFCA. The NAM recently requested that Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) disclose the details of the current EFCA negotiations. Harkin’s staff informed the NAM that while legislative text is not yet available, the negotiations to develop a modified version are based on the same principles as the current legislation and would likely include language that would compel employers to accept an agreement within a certain period time.

· On Monday October 19th, Sen. Lincoln (D-AR) reiterated her opposition to the EFCA at an event held by the NAM’s state affiliate in Arkansas, the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce. Regarding efforts to modify the existing legislation, the Senator said any compromise would need to come from business and labor groups. We need to continue to send a clear message to Members of Congress that there can be no “compromise” on such fundamentally flawed legislation.