Summary

H.R. 800 would give employees at a workplace the right to unionize as soon as a majority sign cards saying they want a union./1/ This bill also increases penalties for employer violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations, and provides for mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes./2/

This bill's short title is the Employee Free Choice Act of 2007.

Background

Currently, a second ballot election is held after the card signing campaign. This second process is often used by management to launch anti-union campaigns.

Political Context

This bill has been endorsed by ACORN, Center for Community Change, Human Rights Watch, Gray Panthers, Demos, MALDEF, NAACP, and other organizations./3/

Additional Links

/1/ Greenhouse, Steven "Labor Seeks Boost From Pro-Union Measure"
New York Times, February 23, 2007
/2/ AFL-CIO Blog "Employee Free Choice Act Introduced" 2/6/07
/3/ AFL-CIO Employee Free Choice Act Campaign Website