New Legislation Introduced to Make it Easier to Join a Union
On March 10th, a new bill was introduced in the US Senate and House of Representatives that will make it easier for working Americans to join together in a union and negotiate a contract.
The Employee Free Choice Act gives workers the choice of how to form a union, through a majority sign-up system or through a traditional election, a choice that currently can be made only by employers. Majority sign-up allows workers to form a union when a majority sign union cards, without long delays and divisive battles with management.
The bill also helps employees secure a contract with their employer in a reasonable period of time through neutral arbitration, and toughens penalties against employers who violate their workers’ rights.
The bill (H.R. 1409/S. 560) will be taken up by the relevant committees in each chamber in April and is expected to pass sometime this spring or summer.
