We've been saying for a while that there would be a compromise on the Employee Free Choice Act, and one that unions supported. Now it's starting to take shape. The first big news is that the majority sign-up provision has been dropped. Unionization votes, though, would come much more quickly than they currently do, allowing employers less time to harass, intimidate, and fire union-friendly workers.
SEIU President Andy Stern issued a statement indicating he doesn't believe majority sign-up has been permanently dropped.
"As we have said from day one, majority signup is the best way for workers to have the right to choose a voice at their workplace. The Employee Free Choice Act is going through the usual legislative process, and we expect a vote on a majority signup provision in the final bill or by amendment in both houses of Congress."
Meanwhile, AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale didn't suggest that provision would be kept, but expressed strong optimism about the compromise bill:
As School House Rock taught us this is the normal process of how a bill becomes a law. We are very optimistic about passing the strongest labor law reform since the Wagner Act -- one that lets workers choose to join a union without intimidation or harassment, ensures that workers who join a union get a first contract, and has meaningful penalties for violations.
That's the bottom line: Majority sign-up was one way, probably the best way, to ensure that workers would be able to choose to form a union without fear of retribution. It's unfortunate but not unexpected if it isn't in the final bill, but major labor law reform remains in the works. Whatever's coming won't be perfect, but there's a good chance it will be a huge step forward.
With this compromise, the Chamber of Commerce and other mouthpieces for big business will have to be that much more blatant about the fact that they were never concerned about workplace democracy -- they just want to prevent workers from having any power in the workplace. Be prepared to hear next how awful it will be to have elections held quickly, and how terrible arbitration would be (even though when businesses control the arbitration process, they think it's a great thing). When you hear it, know it for the Chamber of Commerce/Wal-Mart propaganda it is.