Senate Blocks Employee Free Choice Act
Senate Republicans on June 26 blocked the Employee Free Choice Act from moving forward. Current law allows employers to request a secret ballot election in cases of union organizing efforts. The election is overseen by the National Labor Relations Board. The Act would have removed this provision, and would have required employers to recognize a union if a majority of workers in the bargaining unit signed an authorization card.
To proceed over objections of Senate Republicans, supporters of the bill needed 60 votes to push the bill forward. The final vote on Tuesday was 51 to 48, and the attempt to overcome the objections failed. Democrats said they plan to continue introducing the bill in subsequent years.
"The Senate's vote is a victory for workers who value the protection and dignity of private balloting and the basic right to vote on labor contracts," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.