Printer-friendly version Reader Comments

In Maine, a nearly two-year campaign is aimed largely at convincing Sens. Snowe and Collins to back the bill.

By DIETER BRADBURY, Political Correspondent June 1, 2009

PORTLAND — Organized labor is keeping the pressure on Maine's congressional delegation to support a bill that would make it easier to form unions in workplaces.

The Change That Works campaign, funded by the Service Employees International Union and other labor groups, has been holding news conferences around the state to highlight the Employee Free Choice Act of 2007 (H.R. 800).

Speakers offered examples of alleged employer intimidation in union organizing drives in Maine. They said the measure would reduce workplace conflict and help the economy.

The event was the latest installment in a nearly two-year campaign, aimed largely at Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, to win passage of the controversial bill.

Snowe and Collins, both Republicans, oppose the measure, but labor supporters said they hope that Snowe especially could be persuaded to change her mind.

"As usual, the senator decides these issues on her own and keeps her own counsel," said Greg Howard, communications director for the campaign. "She's listening to both sides of the issue."

Snowe has not changed her position, according to a statement from her office. "Sen. Snowe has expressed opposition to the legislation, as she believes workers have a right to vote their conscience in a confidential environment," the statement said. "It is important employees remain protected when making crucial decisions affecting their jobs."

SECRET BALLOTS NOT REQUIRED

The Employee Free Choice Act, also referred to as "card-check," would not require secret ballot votes on forming a union. Instead, workers would have the option of simply signing a card.

The measure would also impose time limits on contract talks and increase the penalties for employers who violate workers' rights.

Labor has described the measure as its top legislative priority, and supporters have been trying to get the bill through Congress for at least two years.

The House passed the bill last year, and the 224 co-sponsors of this year's measure include Maine Democratic Reps. Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud.

In the Senate, Massachusetts Democrat Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is the sponsor of the bill, and the 39 co-sponsors are all Democrats or independents.

Arlen Specter, the Pennsylvania senator who switched from the Republican to the Democratic Party this year, dealt a blow to the bill's prospects when he announced his opposition.

President Obama supports the bill but recently conceded that Democrats don't have the numbers to win passage in the Senate. He suggested amending the language to make the bill more palatable.

Labor groups have been campaigning on behalf of the legislation since June 2007, when supporters rallied outside the Portland offices of Snowe and Collins. Business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have run campaigns of their own to defeat the bill.

SUPPORTERS CITE STUDY

At a press conference in Portland on Thursday, supporters pointed to a recent study of National Labor Relations Board election campaigns by Kate Bronfenbrenner, a researcher at Cornell University.

Her study, funded by labor groups, concluded that private-sector employers are putting "a greater focus on more coercive and punitive tactics" to prevent union organizing.

But critics of the bill contend that workers could be subject to intimidation by labor organizers if they were required to sign cards indicating their position on forming a union.

"I think there's a lot of concern on our part that it really undermines some fundamental principles that have been in place in labor relations law since the 1930s," said Peter Gore, vice president of governmental affairs for the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.

Gore said the chamber supports employee rights to form unions and pursue collective bargaining. But he said if the bill becomes law,...