American Anthropological Association

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The hits continue for The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), a bill that would allow workers to organize by signing cards expressing their desire to unionize. Blanche Lincoln (D-AK) became the first Senate Democrat to oppose the legislation, saying, “We need all hands on deck, including business and labor, to get our economy moving again. This issue is dividing us.”

Without the support of Lincoln and Arlen Specter (R-PA), the bill, in its current form, will have a difficult time passing the Senate. Labor and business are now shelling out huge amounts of money in attempts to drum up support for their respective positions.

Labor leaders say the the EFCA is needed because businesses often intimidate, threaten or fire pro-union workers prior to elections; delay elections and contract negotiations for years; and are not deterred by current punitive measures. The AAA’s Committee for Public Policy release a policy brief that supports the general tenor of the EFCA. You can read the policy brief here [pdf]: http://www.aaanet.org/pdf/AAAPolicyBrief_092707.pdf

Filed under: Advocacy, Public Affairs