Schumer interacts with the audience during the Q & A
Senator Schumer addresses a SRO (standing room only) crowd
Employee Free Choice Act Will Hurt Both Businesses and, Eventually, Employees
and The Unions That Demand Its Passage By By Bob Heiferman & Joe Martin
December 15, 2008
Despite the U.S. and world economies in turmoil, organized labor is continuing to pressure Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act (“EFCA”) to “save” the day. According to the unions, implementing the Act would stimulate the economy by allowing unions to organize workers more easily and this would result in a boost to the economy. Unfortunately, organized labor is sadly mistaken.
Aside from denying employees the right to a secret ballot, something protected since the enactment of existing legislation, EFCA contains a mandatory arbitration provision that has received little attention. This arbitration provision carries economic consequences that run contrary to labor’s assertions that the bill would rehabilitate the economy. (read more)
(President's Note: My friend and colleague, Ken Adams, President of The Business Council of NYS, has done an exemplary job of analyzing the budgetary problems at the State level and has succinctly articulated a necessary course of action. I endorse his recommendations and hope that you will, too.)
Obama and New Congress likely to press for "Card Check" By Maggie Moree, The Business Council of NYS
(President's Note: The Employee Free Choice Act could be the most serious issue facing our businesses today and it could be delivered to the White House early next year. It would eliminate the secret ballot in union organizing, virtually remove the owners of small businesses from the organizing process and is designed to target our smallest and most vulnerable Main Street businesses. It must be blocked.)
Among the issues expected to be taken up early in the 2009 congressional calendar will be the Employee Free Choice Act, (Card Check). This bill has support of President-elect Obama, House Speaker Pelosi and most of New York’s congressional delegation. US Senators Clinton and Schumer cosponsor the bill in the US Senate.
The Card Check bill would change the process by which workplaces are organized by allowing union organizers to choose either a private ballot or ‘card check’ procedure as the means by which employees choose whether or not they wish to be represented by a union. As significant a shift this is from current law and procedures, the Card Check bill would also put into statute a specific timeframe within which the first union contract must be negotiated with a bargaining unit once certified; if not completed within that timeframe binding arbitration would be imposed with required use of a federally appointed arbitrator. The bill contains no exemptions for small businesses.
All businesses - regardless of size – need to think through this bill’s impact and how it may fundamentally change business employment practices. A new Congress represents a new opportunity to express to your Congressional representative and his or her key staff your position on this bill.
The Business Council has joined with many trade and chamber organizations across the country in opposing this bill. But the ability to translate the impact of this bill into real-time business impact stories is often best expressed by the business itself and a new Congress gives all our members a new opportunity to evaluate whether and how this bill would impact their ability to retain or grow jobs in New York. More information on the bill can be found at: www.uschamber.com/cardcheck.
If you’re interested in taking your impact statement and leveraging it into further advocacy, contact Maggie Moree at margaret.moree@bcnys.org.
The RBA presents Eric Dinallo, NYS Superintendent of Insurance and chair of the national task force overseing operations of AIG, as the Annual Dinner keynote speaker on November 13, 2008 at the Hilton Pearl River.
The Rockland Business Association is pleased to announce new health options for Rockland County’s small business owners.
“During these difficult economic times, we want Rockland business owners to have more flexibility and choices for these important benefits. We are confident that what Chamber Benefits Group is providing is worth the consideration and time for Rockland businesses” said Michael Coogan, of the Chamber Benefits Group. (more)
Without question, the elections of November 2008, at both the state and national levels, were historic.
Democrats swept to new levels of power. First-time voters and those generally under the age of 30 voted in numbers not seen in 26 years. Minorities of color enjoyed record voter turn-out. A magnificently crafted Obama campaign became the first to use the hand-held technology of today’s generation. And, the precision with which that campaign targeted the electoral vote has to be admired. He was not my candidate, but that doesn’t preclude the recognition that was earned. The campaign was brilliantly executed and I respect that. (more)
