WORKFORCE FAIRNESS INSTITUTE

Washington, D.C. (July 28, 2009)  – The Workforce Fairness Institute (WFI) today issued the following statement in response to a news report stating Senator Harry Reid is planning to “railroad” the Employee ‘Forced’ Choice Act (EFCA) through the process.  In the same press account, a Senate leadership aide concedes the job-killing legislation cannot withstand debate and scrutiny and will require U.S. Senators – doing the bidding of union bosses – to ram the legislation through “before anyone can mobilize against it.”
 
“Last week, union bosses committed to using backdoor, legislative tactics to include previously removed, unacceptable provisions of the Employee ‘Forced’ Choice Act into any so-called ‘compromise’ language.  And this week, it appears U.S. Senators are following the lead of Big Labor and planning to ram job-killing legislation through the process obstructing any debate and public scrutiny,” said Katie Packer, executive director of the Workforce Fairness Institute.  “EFCA would eliminate worker freedoms and result in massive job loss during a historic recession.  We are already ‘mobilizing’ against the legislation and will make certain that workers and small business owners are well aware of the destructive impact it would have on our economy.  And we will force Members of Congress to choose between protecting the interests of their constituents and offering payback to Big Labor bosses.”
 
The Workforce Fairness Institute is an organization committed to educating voters, employers, employees and citizens about issues affecting the workplace. To learn more, please visit: http://www.workforcefairness.com.
 
To schedule an interview with a Workforce Fairness Institute representative, please contact Kelly Oliver (ext. 140) or Mary Beth Hutchins (ext. 105) at (703) 683-5004.
 
 
BACKGROUND:
 
Senator Harry Reid Planning To “Railroad” EFCA Through The Process; Aide Says Senate Plans To “Get It Passed Before Anyone Can Mobilize Against It”:
 
“As Senate Democrats struggle to hammer out a compromise bill on union organizing, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is sketching a process for railroading the bill through the floor as quickly as possible to prevent Republicans from rallying a major campaign against it, senior Democratic aides said … Cutting off debate on the bill would likely ignite a major partisan firestorm, and top Democrats will look to make their move as fast as possible, according to the Democratic aides.  ‘This is not the kind of thing where we could have a long, drawn-out rollout.  We’d have to say, “Here’s the deal,” and then get to the floor and get it passed before anyone can mobilize against it,’ one leadership aide said.  The leadership aide argued that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) would also have to agree to the deal before Reid would be willing to bring it to the floor, since any major changes to the bill in the House or in conference would likely make final passage impossible in the Senate.  ‘It’s ... the kind of thing that the House would have to eat,’ a Democratic aide said, explaining that Democrats in the Senate will need union officials to make the case to Pelosi that she should pass the bill ‘as is.’” (John Stanton, “Speed May Be Key To Labor Bill,” Roll Call, 7/28/09)
 
SEIU Boss Andy Stern “Expect[s] A Vote On A Majority Sign-Up Provision”
 
“Soon after the Times piece hit the newsstands late last week, Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern quickly poured cold water on it.  In a brief statement, he strongly suggested that he expects the contentious provision to be restored once it hits the Senate floor.  ‘As we have said from day one, majority sign-up is the best way for workers to have the right to choose a voice at their workplace,’ Stern said.  ‘The Employee Free Choice Act is going through the usual legislative process, and we expect a vote on a majority sign-up provision in the final bill or by amendment in both houses of Congress.’  SEIU spokeswoman Ramona Oliver on Friday declined to elaborate on Stern’s statement, calling it ‘very, very clear.’” (Matthew Murray, “Unions Open To EFCA Deal,” Roll Call, 7/20/09)
 
Economic Study Concludes Jobs Lost If EFCA Becomes Law:
 
“Today, we learn that an independent quantitative analysis of the economic consequences concludes that millions of jobs would be lost if Card Check became law … Using data from Canada’s experience with a Card Check system, economist Dr. Anne Layne-Farrar’s assessment of the consequences of adopting the same system in the U.S. found that union membership would increase, but so would unemployment.  Said Layne-Farrar: ‘For every three percentage points gained in union membership through card checks and mandatory arbitration, the following year’s unemployment rate is predicted to increase by one percentage point and job creation is predicted to fall by around 1.5 million jobs.’” (“Quantitative Study Finds Card Check Would Cost Millions Of Jobs,” Washington Examiner, 3/5/09)
 
For more information on the economic study, go to: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1353305
 
AFSCME Boss McEntee Says EFCA Is “Payback” For Unions’ Political Support:
 
“Gerald McEntee, president of the influential American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, told The Washington Times in an interview that EFCA was ‘payback’ for the labor movement’s massive campaign effort for Mr. Obama and the Democrats.” (David R. Sands, “Labor’s ‘Priority’ On Back Burner,” The Washington Times, 12/29/08)