s 10 55740 1236657600 false 1236657600 560 14565 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.<br/>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.<br/>

1236657600 2009-03-10 Sat Sep 19 01:21:16 -0500 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 1932-02-22 317 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] Ted N00000308 19377 Democrat 202-224-4543 Catholic MA Ted Edward Kennedy 3.52777777777778 http://kennedy.senate.gov/ A000069 1924-09-11 141 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] N00007653 9732 Democrat 202-224-6361 Congregationalist HI Daniel Akaka 2.42857142857143 http://akaka.senate.gov/public/index.cfm B001265 1962-03-30 144 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] N00029901 4941 Democrat 202-224-3004 AK Mark Begich 3.57142857142857 http://begich.senate.gov/public/ B000711 1940-11-11 112 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] N00006692 28224 Democrat 202-224-3553 Jewish CA Barbara Boxer 2.49099099099099 http://boxer.senate.gov SenatorBoxer B000944 1952-11-09 713 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] N00003535 13168 Democrat 202-224-2315 Lutheran OH Sherrod Brown 3.63076923076923 http://brown.senate.gov/ SherrodBrownOhio B001266 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] N00015389 4878 Democrat 202-224-2854 IL Roland Burris 1.08 http://burris.senate.gov/ B001210 1917-11-20 311 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] N00002200 10415 Democrat 202-224-3954 Baptist WV Robert Byrd 2.55813953488372 http://byrd.senate.gov C000127 1958-10-13 511 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] N00007836 12140 Democrat 202-224-3441 Roman Catholic WA Maria Cantwell 4.28125 http://cantwell.senate.gov SenatorCantwell C000141 1943-10-05 509 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] N00001955 9186 Democrat 202-224-4524 Jewish MD Ben Benjamin Cardin 3.32258064516129 http://cardin.senate.gov/ SenatorCardin C000174 1947-01-23 513 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] N00012508 7026 Democrat 202-224-2441 Presbyterian DE Tom Thomas Carper 3.5 http://carper.senate.gov C001070 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] N00027503 11568 Democrat 202-224-6324 PA Bob Robert Casey 2.61904761904762 http://casey.senate.gov/ D000388 1944-05-27 448 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] N00000581 14645 Democrat 202-224-2823 Roman Catholic CT Chris Christopher Dodd 1.93548387096774 http://dodd.senate.gov SenChrisDodd D000563 1944-11-21 309 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] N00004981 16448 Democrat 202-224-2152 Roman Catholic IL Dick Richard Durbin 3.92929292929293 http://durbin.senate.gov F000061 1953-03-02 506 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] N00000036 13425 Democrat 202-224-5323 Jewish WI Russell Feingold 6.23076923076923 http://feingold.senate.gov SenRussFeingold F000457 1951-05-21 320 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] N00029016 2961 Democrat 202-224-5641 MN Al Franken 5.18518518518519 http://franken.senate.gov G000555 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] N00027658 12260 Democrat 202-224-4451 NY Kirsten Gillibrand 3.29411764705882 http://gillibrand.senate.gov H000206 1939-11-19 731 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] Tom N00004207 9270 Democrat 202-224-3254 Roman Catholic IA Tom Thomas Harkin 3.22222222222222 http://harkin.senate.gov/ SenatorTomHarkin I000025 1924-09-07 722 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] N00001762 7747 Democrat 202-224-3934 Methodist HI Daniel Inouye 2.71428571428571 http://inouye.senate.gov/ J000177 1946-12-28 136 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] N00010084 7872 Democrat 202-224-5842 Lutheran SD Tim Johnson 4.07692307692308 http://johnson.senate.gov/ K000373 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] 2723 Democrat 202-224-5042 DE Ted Edward Kaufman 3.66666666666667 http://kaufman.senate.gov K000148 1943-12-11 218 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] N00000245 13981 Democrat 202-224-2742 Roman Catholic MA John Kerry 2.64 http://kerry.senate.gov/ K000367 1960-05-25 302 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] N00027500 11177 Democrat 202-224-3244 MN Amy Klobuchar 3.30188679245283 http://klobuchar.senate.gov/ L000123 1924-01-23 324 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] N00000659 11406 Democrat 202-224-3224 Jewish NJ Frank Lautenberg 2.125 http://lautenberg.senate.gov/ franklautenberg L000174 1940-03-31 433 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] N00009918 9914 Democrat 202-224-4242 Roman Catholic VT Patrick Leahy 4.13793103448276 http://leahy.senate.gov/ SenatorPatrickLeahy L000261 1934-06-28 269 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] N00001691 25107 Democrat 202-224-6221 Jewish MI Carl Levin 2.13333333333333 http://levin.senate.gov/ L000304 1942-02-24 706 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] N00000616 12615 Independent 202-224-4041 Jewish CT Joseph Lieberman 3.13253012048193 http://lieberman.senate.gov/ M000639 1954-01-01 528 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] Bob N00000699 13683 Democrat 202-224-4744 Roman Catholic NJ Robert Menendez 2.11764705882353 http://menendez.senate.gov/ SenatorMenendezNJ M001176 1956-10-24 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] N00029303 4281 Democrat 202-224-3753 OR Jeff Jeff Merkley 2.38461538461538 http://merkley.senate.gov M000702 1936-07-20 503 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] N00001945 9640 Democrat 202-224-4654 Roman Catholic MD Barbara Mikulski 2.68888888888889 http://mikulski.senate.gov/ M001111 1950-10-11 173 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] N00007876 10835 Democrat 202-224-2621 Roman Catholic WA Patty Murray 4.203125 http://murray.senate.gov/ N000032 1942-09-29 716 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] N00009926 18174 Democrat 202-224-5274 Presbyterian FL Bill Nelson 2.14117647058824 http://billnelson.senate.gov/ SenBillNelson R000122 1949-11-12 728 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] Jack N00000362 8756 Democrat 202-224-4642 Roman Catholic RI Jack John Reed 2.875 http://reed.senate.gov/ R000146 1939-12-02 522 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] N00009922 18340 Democrat 202-224-3542 Latter Day Saints NV Harry Reid 1.58196721311475 http://reid.senate.gov/ SenatorReid R000361 1937-06-18 531 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] Jay N00001685 9933 Democrat 202-224-6472 Presbyterian WV Jay John Rockefeller 1.04411764705882 http://rockefeller.senate.gov/ S000033 1941-09-08 332 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] Bernie N00000528 9377 Independent 202-224-5141 Jewish VT Bernie Bernard Sanders 6.6 http://sanders.senate.gov/ SenatorSanders S000148 1950-11-23 313 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] N00001093 20263 Democrat 202-224-6542 Jewish NY Chuck Charles Schumer 2.24468085106383 http://schumer.senate.gov/ senatorschumer S001181 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] N00024790 4015 Democrat 202-224-2841 NH Jeanne Shaheen 3.0 http://shaheen.senate.gov senatorshaheen S000770 1950-04-29 133 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] N00004118 14357 Democrat 202-224-4822 United Methodist MI Debbie Ann Stabenow 2.78181818181818 http://stabenow.senate.gov/ SenatorStabenow U000039 1948-05-18 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] N00006561 7626 Democrat 202-224-6621 Latter Day Saints NM Tom Udall 3.45 http://tomudall.senate.gov W000802 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] N00027533 8888 Democrat 202-224-2921 RI Sheldon Whitehouse 3.5 http://whitehouse.senate.gov/ SenatorWhitehouse W000779 1949-05-03 223 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] N00007724 9908 Democrat 202-224-5244 Jewish OR Ron Wyden 3.96428571428571 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