Employee Free Choice Act

The new Congress will consider landmark legislation that would make it easier to organize unions by altering labor laws that have been in place for decades.

The bill would:

• Allow a union to be established if authorization cards are signed by a majority of workers. Under current law, an employer can require that a secret election be held before a union could be certified.

• Use binding arbitration to determine pay, benefits and work rules in a first labor contract if the union and management fail to reach agreement in 120 days.