s 284 10 55740 1236657600 false 1236657600 40 560 15046 This bill (aka "card check") would change the rules governing the formation of unions, the way first contracts between unions and employers are negotiated, and how employees' rights are enforced.<br><br> Under the bill, workers would be able to decide whether to hold a secret ballot vote on union formation after a majority of employees have signed union authorization cards, or to have the union certified based on the cards alone. Under the current rules, employers have the power to make that decision. The bill also designates a time line for first contracts to be drawn up between unions and employees and stipulates that if no deal is reached within 120 days, an arbitration panel will render a decision that will be binding for two years. Finally, it would increase the fines employers must pay if found guilty of violating their employees' right to unionize.<br><br> This bill is organized labor's number one legislative priority, and it is vigorously opposed by the business lobby. Democratic leader are expected to bring it to a vote in the Senate sometime this summer. The big question regarding its passage is whether or not the Democrats can find 60 votes in favor of breaking an inevitable Republican filibuster. The House version is <a href="http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1409/show">H.R. 1490</a>. 111 300059

3/10/2009--Introduced.Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to require the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to certify a bargaining representative without directing an election if a majority of the bargaining unit employees have authorized designation of the representative (card-check) and there is no other individual or labor organization currently certified or recognized as the exclusive representative of any of the employees in the unit. Sets forth special procedural requirements for reaching an initial collective bargaining agreement following certification or recognition. Revises enforcement requirements with respect to unfair labor practices during union organizing drives, particularly a preliminary investigation of an alleged unfair labor practice (ULP) which may lead to proceedings for injunctive relief. Requires that priority be given to a preliminary investigation of any charge that, while employees were seeking representation by a labor organization, or during the period after a labor organization was recognized as a representative until the first collective bargaining contract is entered into, an employer: (1) discharged or otherwise discriminated against an employee to encourage or discourage membership in the labor organization; (2) threatened to discharge or to otherwise discriminate against an employee in order to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of guaranteed self-organization or collective bardaining rights; or (3) engaged in any other related ULP that significantly interferes with, restrains, or coerces employees in the exercise of such guaranteed rights. Adds to remedies for such violations: (1) back pay plus liquidated damages; and (2) additional civil penalties.

1236657600 2009-03-10 Sat Nov 14 06:34:05 -0600 2009 introduced 55740 'act':4 '2009':6 'free':2 'choic':3 'employe':1 71732 false short introduced 55740 'act':4 '2009':6 'free':2 'choic':3 'employe':1 70062 true popular introduced 55740 'act':4 '2009':6 'free':2 'choic':3 'emploe':1 70061 false popular introduced 55740 'act':9 'bill':2 'form':19 'join':20 'amend':4 'enabl':16 'labor':7,23,32 'organ':24,36 'relat':8 'assist':22 'effici':13 'effort':37 'nation':6 'provid':26 'purpos':41 'system':14 'unfair':31 'employe':17 'injunct':29 'practic':33 'establish':11 'mandatori':28 70059 false official action 55740 1236657600 Tue Mar 10 00:00:00 -0500 2009 187265 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. K000105 1932-02-22 12654 317 Russell Senate Office Building http://kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm 202-224-2417 Edward 'd':4 'ma':5 'sen':1 'ted':8 'edward':2,6,9 'kennedi':3,7,10 M 300059 Kennedy Edward_Kennedy M. Sen. Edward Kennedy [D, MA] 7031 Ted N00000308 19684 Democrat 202-224-4543 Catholic MA Ted Edward Kennedy 3.52252252252252 http://kennedy.senate.gov/ A000069 1924-09-11 4399 141 Hart Senate Office Building http://akaka.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home 202-224-2126 Daniel 'd':4 'hi':5 'sen':1 'akaka':3,7,9 'daniel':2,6,8 M 300001 Akaka Don_Cazayoux Kahikina Sen. Daniel Akaka [D, HI] 2319 N00007653 10016 Democrat 202-224-6361 Congregationalist HI Daniel Akaka 2.26666666666667 http://akaka.senate.gov/public/index.cfm B001265 1962-03-30 3123 144 Russell Senate Office Building http://begich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=EmailSenator 202-224-2354 Mark 'd':4 'ak':5 'sen':1 'mark':2,6,8 'begich':3,7,9 M 412326 Begich Sen. Mark Begich [D, AK] 1530 N00029901 5196 Democrat 202-224-3004 AK Mark Begich 3.40540540540541 http://begich.senate.gov/public/ B000711 1940-11-11 14879 112 Hart Senate Office Building http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/policy.cfm 202-224-0454 Barbara 'd':4 'ca':5 'sen':1 'boxer':3,7,9 'barbara':2,6,8 F 300011 Boxer Barbara_Boxer Sen. Barbara Boxer [D, CA] 7259 N00006692 29137 Democrat 202-224-3553 Jewish CA Barbara Boxer 2.48101265822785 http://boxer.senate.gov SenatorBoxer B000944 1952-11-09 7910 713 Hart Senate Office Building http://brown.senate.gov/contact/ 202-228-6321 Sherrod 'd':4 'oh':5 'sen':1 'brown':3,7,9 'sherrod':2,6,8 M 400050 Brown Sherrod_Brown Sen. Sherrod Brown [D, OH] 5099 N00003535 13573 Democrat 202-224-2315 Lutheran OH Sherrod Brown 3.60294117647059 http://brown.senate.gov/ SherrodBrownOhio B001266 3192 387 Russell Senate Office Building http://burris.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm 202-228-3333 Roland 'd':4 'il':5 'sen':1 'burri':3,7,9 'roland':2,6,8 M 412328 Burris Sen. Roland Burris [D, IL] 1886 N00015389 5160 Democrat 202-224-2854 IL Roland Burris 1.03846153846154 http://burris.senate.gov/ B001210 1917-11-20 9995 311 Hart Senate Office Building http://byrd.senate.gov/contacts/ 202-228-0002 Robert 'd':4 'wv':5 'sen':1 'byrd':3,7,9 'robert':2,6,8 M 300016 Byrd Robert_Byrd C. Sen. Robert Byrd [D, WV] 4100 N00002200 10655 Democrat 202-224-3954 Baptist WV Robert Byrd 2.5531914893617 http://byrd.senate.gov C000127 1958-10-13 5879 511 Dirksen Senate Office Building http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/ 202-228-0514 Maria 'd':4 'wa':5 'sen':1 'maria':2,6,8 'cantwel':3,7,9 F 300018 Cantwell Maria_Cantwell Sen. Maria Cantwell [D, WA] 3238 N00007836 12488 Democrat 202-224-3441 Roman Catholic WA Maria Cantwell 4.41176470588235 http://cantwell.senate.gov SenatorCantwell C000141 1943-10-05 3239 509 Hart Senate Office Building http://cardin.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm 202-224-1651 Benjamin 'd':4 'md':5 'sen':1 'cardin':3,7,9 'benjamin':2,6,8 M 400064 Cardin Benjamin_L._Cardin L. Sen. Benjamin Cardin [D, MD] 1480 N00001955 9478 Democrat 202-224-4524 Jewish MD Ben Benjamin Cardin 3.2258064516129 http://cardin.senate.gov/ SenatorCardin C000174 1947-01-23 3080 513 Hart Senate Office Building http://carper.senate.gov/contact/ 202-228-2190 Thomas 'd':4 'de':5 'sen':1 'thoma':2,6,8 'carper':3,7,9 M 300019 Carper Thomas_Carper Richard Sen. Thomas Carper [D, DE] 1231 N00012508 7207 Democrat 202-224-2441 Presbyterian DE Tom Thomas Carper 3.41176470588235 http://carper.senate.gov C001070 4920 393 Russell Senate Office Building http://casey.senate.gov/contact/ 202-228-0604 Robert 'd':4 'pa':5 'sen':1 'casey':3,7,9 'robert':2,6,8 M 412246 Casey Robert_P._Casey,_Jr. P. Sen. Robert Casey [D, PA] 2338 N00027503 11875 Democrat 202-224-6324 PA Bob Robert Casey 2.88888888888889 http://casey.senate.gov/ D000388 1944-05-27 11802 448 Russell Senate Office Building http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3130 202-228-1083 Christopher 'd':4 'ct':5 'sen':1 'dodd':3,7,9 'christoph':2,6,8 M 300034 Dodd Christopher_Dodd J. Sen. Christopher Dodd [D, CT] 6702 N00000581 15182 Democrat 202-224-2823 Roman Catholic CT Chris Christopher Dodd 1.93877551020408 http://dodd.senate.gov SenChrisDodd D000563 1944-11-21 8057 309 Hart Senate Office Building http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm 202-228-0400 Richard 'd':4 'il':5 'sen':1 'durbin':3,7,9 'richard':2,6,8 M 300038 Durbin Richard_Durbin J. Sen. Richard Durbin [D, IL] 4406 N00004981 16905 Democrat 202-224-2152 Roman Catholic IL Dick Richard Durbin 3.90384615384615 http://durbin.senate.gov F000061 1953-03-02 3525 506 Hart Senate Office Building http://feingold.senate.gov/contact_opinion.html 202-224-2725 Russell 'd':4 'wi':5 'sen':1 'russel':2,6,8 'feingold':3,7,9 M 300042 Feingold Russell_Feingold D. Sen. Russell Feingold [D, WI] 1311 N00000036 13774 Democrat 202-224-5323 Jewish WI Russell Feingold 6.00925925925926 http://feingold.senate.gov SenRussFeingold F000457 1951-05-21 1560 320 Hart Senate Office Building Al 'd':4 'al':2,6,8 'mn':5 'sen':1 'franken':3,7,9 M 412378 Franken Sen. Al Franken [D, MN] 1156 N00029016 3333 Democrat 202-224-5641 MN Al Franken 5.18181818181818 http://franken.senate.gov G000555 5221 478 Russell Senate Office Building http://gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/ 202-225-1168 Kirsten 'd':4 'ny':5 'sen':1 'kirsten':2,6,8 'gillibrand':3,7,9 F 412223 Gillibrand Kirsten_Gillibrand E. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D, NY] 3525 N00027658 12678 Democrat 202-224-4451 NY Kirsten Gillibrand 3.18518518518519 http://gillibrand.senate.gov H000206 1939-11-19 3701 731 Hart Senate Office Building http://harkin.senate.gov/c/index.cfm 202-224-9369 Thomas 'd':4 'ia':5 'sen':1 'tom':8 'thoma':2,6,9 'harkin':3,7,10 M 300051 Harkin Tom_Harkin Sen. Thomas Harkin [D, IA] 1929 Tom N00004207 9541 Democrat 202-224-3254 Roman Catholic IA Tom Thomas Harkin 3.10714285714286 http://harkin.senate.gov/ SenatorTomHarkin I000025 1924-09-07 5984 722 Hart Senate Office Building http://inouye.senate.gov/Contact/Email-Form.cfm 202-224-6747 Daniel 'd':4 'hi':5 'sen':1 'inouy':3,7,9 'daniel':2,6,8 M 300056 Inouye Daniel_Inouye K. Sen. Daniel Inouye [D, HI] 2872 N00001762 7916 Democrat 202-224-3934 Methodist HI Daniel Inouye 2.375 http://inouye.senate.gov/ J000177 1946-12-28 7356 136 Hart Senate Office Building http://johnson.senate.gov/contact/ 202-228-5765 Tim 'd':4 'sd':5 'sen':1 'tim':2,6,8 'johnson':3,7,9 M 300058 Johnson Tim_Johnson P. Sen. Tim Johnson [D, SD] 3636 N00010084 8039 Democrat 202-224-5842 Lutheran SD Tim Johnson 4.07692307692308 http://johnson.senate.gov/ K000373 1354 383 Russell Senate Office Building http://kaufman.senate.gov/services/contact/ 202-228-3075 Edward 'd':4 'de':5 'sen':1 'edward':2,6,8 'kaufman':3,7,9 M 412329 Kaufman E. Sen. Edward Kaufman [D, DE] 684 2860 Democrat 202-224-5042 DE Ted Edward Kaufman 3.5 http://kaufman.senate.gov K000148 1943-12-11 26570 218 Russell Senate Office Building http://kerry.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm 202-224-8525 John 'd':4 'ma':5 'sen':1 'john':2,6,8 'kerri':3,7,9 M 300060 Kerry John_Kerry Forbes Sen. John Kerry [D, MA] 12091 N00000245 14440 Democrat 202-224-2742 Roman Catholic MA John Kerry 2.63461538461538 http://kerry.senate.gov/ K000367 1960-05-25 6726 302 Hart Senate Office Building http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm 202-228-2186 Amy 'd':4 'mn':5 'ami':2,6,8 'sen':1 'klobuchar':3,7,9 F 412242 Klobuchar Amy_Klobuchar Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D, MN] 4132 N00027500 11411 Democrat 202-224-3244 MN Amy Klobuchar 3.42105263157895 http://klobuchar.senate.gov/ L000123 1924-01-23 7323 324 Hart Senate Office Building http://lautenberg.senate.gov/contact/routing.cfm 202-228-4054 Frank 'd':4 'nj':5 'sen':1 'frank':2,6,8 'lautenberg':3,7,9 M 300064 Lautenberg Frank_Lautenberg R. Sen. Frank Lautenberg [D, NJ] 3941 N00000659 11671 Democrat 202-224-3224 Jewish NJ Frank Lautenberg 2.31707317073171 http://lautenberg.senate.gov/ franklautenberg L000174 1940-03-31 12797 433 Russell Senate Office Building http://leahy.senate.gov/contact.cfm 202-224-3479 Patrick 'd':4 'vt':5 'sen':1 'leahi':3,7,9 'patrick':2,6,8 M 300065 Leahy Patrick_Leahy J. Sen. Patrick Leahy [D, VT] 6604 N00009918 10133 Democrat 202-224-4242 Roman Catholic VT Patrick Leahy 4.375 http://leahy.senate.gov/ SenatorPatrickLeahy L000261 1934-06-28 12591 269 Russell Senate Office Building http://levin.senate.gov/contact/ 202-224-1388 Carl 'd':4 'mi':5 'sen':1 'carl':2,6,8 'levin':3,7,9 M 300066 Levin Carl_Levin Sen. Carl Levin [D, MI] 7016 N00001691 25829 Democrat 202-224-6221 Jewish MI Carl Levin 2.01515151515152 http://levin.senate.gov/ L000304 1942-02-24 9410 706 Hart Senate Office Building http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact/ 202-224-9750 Joseph 'ct':5 'sen':1 'joseph':2,6,8 'lieberman':3,7,9 M 300067 Lieberman Joseph_Lieberman I. Sen. Joseph Lieberman [I, CT] 4002 N00000616 13037 Independent 202-224-4041 Jewish CT Joseph Lieberman 3.32954545454545 http://lieberman.senate.gov/ M000639 1954-01-01 5376 528 Hart Senate Office Building http://menendez.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm 202-228-2197 Robert 'd':4 'nj':5 'bob':8 'sen':1 'robert':2,6,9 'menendez':10 'menéndez':3,7 M 400272 Menéndez Robert_Menendez Sen. Robert Menéndez [D, NJ] 2852 Bob N00000699 14038 Democrat 202-224-4744 Roman Catholic NJ Robert Menendez 2.30555555555556 http://menendez.senate.gov/ SenatorMenendezNJ M001176 1956-10-24 2289 B40b Dirksen Senate Office Building http://merkley.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm 202-228-3997 Jeff 'd':4 'sen':1 'jeff':2,6,8 'merkley':3,7,9 M 412325 Merkley Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR] 946 N00029303 4467 Democrat 202-224-3753 OR Jeff Jeff Merkley 2.55172413793103 http://merkley.senate.gov M000702 1936-07-20 5501 503 Hart Senate Office Building http://mikulski.senate.gov/Contact/contact.cfm 202-224-8858 Barbara 'd':4 'md':5 'sen':1 'barbara':2,6,8 'mikulski':3,7,9 F 300073 Mikulski Barbara_Mikulski A. Sen. Barbara Mikulski [D, MD] 2606 N00001945 9886 Democrat 202-224-4654 Roman Catholic MD Barbara Mikulski 2.66666666666667 http://mikulski.senate.gov/ M001111 1950-10-11 7694 173 Russell Senate Office Building http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm 202-224-0238 Patty 'd':4 'wa':5 'sen':1 'patti':2,6,8 'murray':3,7,9 F 300076 Murray Patty_Murray Sen. Patty Murray [D, WA] 3512 N00007876 11083 Democrat 202-224-2621 Roman Catholic WA Patty Murray 4.36764705882353 http://murray.senate.gov/ N000032 1942-09-29 8697 716 Hart Senate Office Building http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm 202-228-2183 Bill 'd':4 'fl':5 'sen':1 'bill':2,6,8 'nelson':3,7,9 M 300078 Nelson Bill_Nelson Sen. Bill Nelson [D, FL] 4253 N00009926 18728 Democrat 202-224-5274 Presbyterian FL Bill Nelson 2.18478260869565 http://billnelson.senate.gov/ SenBillNelson R000122 1949-11-12 3242 728 Hart Senate Office Building http://reed.senate.gov/contact/contact-share.cfm 202-224-4680 John 'd':4 'ri':5 'sen':1 'jack':8 'john':2,6,9 'reed':3,7,10 M 300081 Reed Jack_Reed F. Sen. John Reed [D, RI] 1063 Jack N00000362 8949 Democrat 202-224-4642 Roman Catholic RI Jack John Reed 2.875 http://reed.senate.gov/ R000146 1939-12-02 20138 522 Hart Senate Office Building http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm 202-224-7327 Harry 'd':4 'nv':5 'sen':1 'reid':3,7,9 'harri':2,6,8 M 300082 Reid Harry_Reid M. Sen. Harry Reid [D, NV] 7317 N00009922 19051 Democrat 202-224-3542 Latter Day Saints NV Harry Reid 1.52205882352941 http://reid.senate.gov/ SenatorReid R000361 1937-06-18 4895 531 Hart Senate Office Building http://rockefeller.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm 202-224-7665 John 'd':4 'wv':5 'jay':8 'sen':1 'john':2,6,9 'rockefel':3,7,10 M 300084 Rockefeller John_Rockefeller D. Sen. John Rockefeller [D, WV] 1692 Jay N00001685 10163 Democrat 202-224-6472 Presbyterian WV Jay John Rockefeller 1.0 http://rockefeller.senate.gov/ S000033 1941-09-08 3930 332 Dirksen Senate Office Building http://sanders.senate.gov/comments/ 202-228-0776 Bernard 'vt':5 'sen':1 'berni':8 'sander':3,7,10 'bernard':2,6,9 M 400357 Sanders Bernard_Sanders Sen. Bernard Sanders [I, VT] 1831 Bernie N00000528 9678 Independent 202-224-5141 Jewish VT Bernie Bernard Sanders 6.79245283018868 http://sanders.senate.gov/ SenatorSanders S000148 1950-11-23 15008 313 Hart Senate Office Building http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/contact.cfm 202-228-3027 Charles 'd':4 'ny':5 'sen':1 'charl':2,6,8 'schumer':3,7,9 M 300087 Schumer Charles_Schumer E. Sen. Charles Schumer [D, NY] 7782 N00001093 20717 Democrat 202-224-6542 Jewish NY Chuck Charles Schumer 2.2 http://schumer.senate.gov/ senatorschumer S001181 2386 G55 Dirksen Senate Office Building http://shaheen.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm Jeanne 'd':4 'nh':5 'sen':1 'jeann':2,6,8 'shaheen':3,7,9 F 412323 Shaheen Sen. Jeanne Shaheen [D, NH] 1188 N00024790 4220 Democrat 202-224-2841 NH Jeanne Shaheen 3.0 http://shaheen.senate.gov senatorshaheen S000770 1950-04-29 527 133 Hart Senate Office Building http://stabenow.senate.gov/email.htm 202-228-0325 Debbie Ann 'd':5 'mi':6 'ann':3,8,11 'sen':1 'debbi':2,7,10 'stabenow':4,9,12 F 300093 Stabenow Debbie_Stabenow Sen. Debbie Ann Stabenow [D, MI] 29 N00004118 14718 Democrat 202-224-4822 United Methodist MI Debbie Ann Stabenow 2.69354838709677 http://stabenow.senate.gov/ SenatorStabenow U000039 1948-05-18 5812 B40d Dirksen Senate Office Building http://tomudall.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm 202-226-1331 Tom 'd':4 'nm':5 'sen':1 'tom':2,6,8 'udal':3,7,9 M 400413 Udall Tom_Udall S. Sen. Tom Udall [D, NM] 1924 N00006561 7799 Democrat 202-224-6621 Latter Day Saints NM Tom Udall 3.76190476190476 http://tomudall.senate.gov W000802 5051 502 Hart Senate Office Building http://whitehouse.senate.gov/contact/ 202-228-6362 Sheldon 'd':4 'ri':5 'sen':1 'sheldon':2,6,8 'whitehous':3,7,9 M 412247 Whitehouse Sheldon_Whitehouse Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D, RI] 2198 N00027533 9069 Democrat 202-224-2921 RI Sheldon Whitehouse 3.5 http://whitehouse.senate.gov/ SenatorWhitehouse W000779 1949-05-03 7549 223 Dirksen Senate Office Building http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/ 202-228-2717 Ron 'd':4 'ron':2,6,8 'sen':1 'wyden':3,7,9 M 300100 Wyden Ron_Wyden Sen. Ron Wyden [D, OR] 3306 N00007724 10121 Democrat 202-224-5244 Jewish OR Ron Wyden 3.76666666666667 http://wyden.senate.gov/ SenRonWyden action 55740 1236657600 Tue Mar 10 00:00:00 -0500 2009 187265 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. action 55740 1236657600 Tue Mar 10 00:00:00 -0500 2009 187264 Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2966-2967) introduced 55740 1236657600 Tue Mar 10 00:00:00 -0500 2009 187263