s 316 10 55740 1236657600 false 1236657600 40 560 17958 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 Wed Jan 06 06:54:06 -0600 2010 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 21737 Democrat 202-224-4543 Catholic MA Ted Edward Kennedy 3.57391304347826 http://kennedy.senate.gov/ 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