Against the Employee Free Choice Act

While Members of Congress want to respond quickly to Americans’ concerns about the economy and employment, passing the Employee Free Choice Act would represent a terrible step backwards.
This misnamed legislation would in fact take away choices from both workers and their employers. Most troubling, EFCA would force federal labor arbitrators into local contract negotiations after just 120 days of bargaining — a very short time in many negotiations.
This outside federal arbitrator would then impose a mandatory contract on both sides, without providing workers a chance to vote on the contract’s terms. This process could easily result in a contract that fails to address workers’ concerns and priorities and that endangers the business as well.
I oppose EFCA because I am certain that this legislation would benefit neither workers nor businesses. I urge Members of Congress from North Carolina to reject EFCA, and seek better ways to help both businesses and workers meet the challenges of today’s economy.
Matthew Smith, Esq.
Maddrey Etringer & Smith LLP