Key Republican Senator Open To Negotiating On Employee Free Choice?
Okay, it looks like a key Republican Senator may be signaling a willingness to negotiate over the Employee Free Choice Act — a position that is at odds with some in the Republican leadership and one that is cheering backers of the measure today.
The Senator, Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, made her comments a couple weeks ago to the Alaska State Legislature, but they passed unnoticed until yesterday evening, when a video of them surfaced on the conservative Hot Air blog.
Labor officials and other folks supporting Employee Free Choice are emailing the video around D.C. today as a sign that a key Republican they’d hoped to poach might be somehow gettable:
The key quote from Murkowski is where she discusses the measure and says that “as it is drafted now I’m not supportive.” She singles out the provision eliminating the employer’s right to force a secret ballot vote on joining a union, and the one mandating government arbitration within 120 days if talks break down.
Murkowski’s reference to the bill “as it is drafted now,” labor officials are hoping, suggests that she hasn’t closed the door on supporting a compromise. This may not seem like much. But Murkowski’s comments put her out of step with some GOP leaders — and in line with conservative Dems like Ben Nelson, who says that he opposes the current bill but is open to compromise.
Labor officials point out that Murkowski may also be persuadable because of Alaska’s high union density and relatively influential labor movement. I’ve asked Murkowski’s office for clarification of her position and will bring it to you when I get it.
Relatedly, don’t miss the piece today by Huffpo’s Sam Stein reporting that Citigroup, which has taken tens of billions in public bailout money, hosted a conference call rallying opposition to the measure.
Update: I should have noted that Murkowski voted against the measure last time, making the odds of a switch somewhat longer.
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Wouldn’t the compromise position be that a union can petition employees to form a union, but after that, neither the union, nor management has a say in how the vote is conducted? Seems to me, both are interested parties and allowing either to have a role in the vote (or determining how it is conducted) opens the door for them to exert undue influence.
after that, neither the union, nor management has a say in how the vote is conducted?
That sounds to me like an entirely common sense solution to this and just about perfect. Keep in mind I’m in neither labor nor management, so I’m sure mileages will vary.
“One would take away the right to secret ballot…”
That’s not in there. Either she has not read the bill, or she’s lying. In a state that has the 3rd highest union rate in nation (oil workers), one would think that this issue would prove one she could be more than a puppet for Republican leadership.
I guess the use of “as it’s drafted” is a good sign…if someone takes a moment to remind her that her biggest hang-up on the bill doesn’t actually exist, she’ll think she’s won!
So sad. So, so sad.
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