The Dallas Regional Chamber is actively urging the Texas Congressional delegation to oppose the so called Employee Free Choice Act, known as the “Card Check Bill,” introduced March 10, 2009 in Congress.

Dallas Regional Chamber President, Jim Oberwetter and Vice President of Government Relations, Jay Barksdale are in Washington DC today, April 1st, 2009, and tomorrow visiting with members of the Texas Congressional Delegation to point out dangers to business that would occur if the Employee Free Choice Act is passed by Congress.

Chamber chairman, Bob Best said, "Our executive committee and board have passed resolutions to oppose this piece of legislation because it will curtail the rights of both employees and employers to have a fair process regarding a decision to unionize companies, plants and facilities of all sizes. If passed, this ill-considered proposal has the potential to hamper economic recovery and further curtail employment opportunities at just the wrong time. We are urging our membership to be in touch with their elected officials now to urge defeat of the bill.”

Background
EFCA makes it easy for unions to organize by effectively eliminating the secret ballot election called for under current law. The new bill could force workers to make the important decision about whether or not to unionize in front of union organizers. It would also lead to widespread disenfranchisement of workers who may oppose unionization by cutting them out of the process; and limits an employer’s ability to counter false and misleading rhetoric. EFCA also radically alters collective bargaining by allowing unions to end good faith negotiations and force employers into binding interest arbitration to set all the terms and conditions of a union contract, not just wages and benefits, but work rules, management rights clauses, and how union dues are collected. Finally, EFCA imposes new and very severe penalties only on employer misconduct, not on union misconduct.

The Chamber noted that the bill would significantly affect those in right-to-work states like Texas. Workers in right-to-work states are just as likely as those in other states to find themselves suddenly unionized as the result of a secret card check campaign. Even though workers in right-to-work states do have the right to refuse to pay union dues, if the workplace is organized, they must give up their right to deal directly with their employer. Likewise, employers will be forced to accept arbitration agreements that may impose conditions inconsistent with established business models and impede the ability to compete.

The “Card Check Bill” was blocked in the Senate in 2007, but it has become a top legislative priority for organized labor in 2009. Organized labor made support for the Card Check Bill a litmus test for candidates that it supported in the 2008 elections.

“The Dallas Regional Chamber rarely weighs in on issues such as Card Check but we strongly believe that this issue is critical to the success of our ability to keep and attract businesses and jobs to the region,” said Jim Oberwetter, President, Dallas Regional Chamber. “We are taking a committed stand against Card Check and will do all that we can to urge Congress to defeat it,” he said.

For more information please visit http://secretballot.voteforbusiness.net If you are interested in learning more about this issue please join us for a panel breakfast discussion April 9th at the Cityplace Conference Center. For more information about this event please contact Emily Morton at 214-746-6776 or emorton@dallaschamber.org. Click here to register online.