Employee Free Choice Act -

The Employee Free Choice Act was denied in the Senate today. On a vote of 51-48, the Senate voted for cloture, which means they would shut off the debate and move to simply vote on the bill. We needed nine additional votes to bring cloture and vote on the bill - but that did not happen.

According to a report at the AFL-CIO, Sixteen governors and nearly 1,300 state and local elected officials expressed support for the legislation in all 50 states. Seven presidential candidates back the bill that would have leveled the playing field in the workplace by allowing workers to decide to join a union without employer interference and require arbitration if a timely agreement is not reached on a first contract.

What folks need to consider is what a few Union Review friends recently said, "It is easier to join the army than it is to join a union; it is easier to choose your political party than it is to join a union." And, "This is not over ... the EFCA will be back soon enough!"

They're right, support behind the Employee Free Choice Act will not go away just like that. Labor will continue to fight for fair and just legislation for working people.

There are a few elements of what took place today with the Employee Free Choice Act that should be pointed out. For one, 51 Senators stood up in favor of the EFCA, a majority. These Senators are joined by an overwhelming majority of members of the House of Representatives in supporting the rights of workers across America.

Because of Senate procedural rules and the tactics of a few anti-worker Senators, the Employee Free Choice Act needed 60 votes to pass, rather than a simple majority. For this reason, even though 51 Senators supported it, the bill didn't have enough support to move forward to a final vote.

Working Americans need to take this news with a particular pride, appreciating how far we have come together; and that our commitment to fair and just legislation for all working people is what will make that happen.

 

Some information from the AFL-CIO & Change to Win were used in building this piece.