EFCA Battle Begins: Senate Hearing Set For Tuesday

[babylonsister]

EFCA Battle Begins: Senate Hearing Set For Tuesday

March 6, 2009 04:53 PM


The Senate health committee is set to host the first hearings of the legislative session on the Employee Free Choice Act this Tuesday, a union official says. It's the truest indication yet that Democrats in Congress are willing to plow forward with the hotly contested measure.

The hearings, which will be conducted in two sessions over one day, precede the introduction of any formal piece of legislation. But as one labor official describes it, leadership seems to be "clearing the deck," readying the body for quick action once issues with Senate seats in Minnesota and Illinois are resolved.

"This shows that: A. the Senate is likely going to be taking the lead," said the source, "And it is also showing that B. The Senate is interested in clearing the deck, in that they will offer a view of what is happening on the bill ahead of when it is actually voted on. They will wait to actually introduce the legislation once Franken is seated and Burris is resolved."

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) will chair the hearings in the place of the ailing Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.). And while the title of the session will not mention the Employee Free Choice Act, the labor official said, the substance will be all about that legislation, which would create more and easier avenues for unions to form.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/06/senate-holds-hearing-on-e_n_172640.html

[dcsmart]

1. thanks for the info K & R

[pberq]

2. We will be watching this closely

[pberq]

3. Let's pull out all the stops and support EFCA

Right now I am wasting time on something that would not be happening if the EFCA were law.

Namely, management is refusing to bargain with us after granting us voluntary recognition.

If the EFCA were law, we would have had binding arbitration (it's been way over 6 months).