Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill
— the Employee Free Choice Act
— that would make it easier for employees to form unions. The measure was approved by a vote of 241-185.
The measure would require the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to certify a union as the employee representative when the NLRB finds that a majority of employees have signed authorizations designating the union as their bargaining representative. This process is known as a “card check.” Under current law, a card-check process can be used only if the employer agrees to it, and the NLRB oversees the union election process by way of secret ballots.
Employer organizations have opposed the new measure on the grounds that the use of a card-check system, rather than a secret ballot, makes an employee’s position on a union public, which could open the individual up to intimidation from union supporters.
The bill will now move to the Senate, where it is unclear whether enough votes can be mustered to pass it. The White House has indicated that President Bush will veto the measure if it makes it to his desk.
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