Bill Positions

Bill Number: SJ 5

Bill Title: Labor and Employment - Employee Free Choice Act

Bill Sponsor(s): Senator McFadden

Subject: Workplace Regulations

Committee: FIN

Bill Summary: This resolution would have encouraged the Maryland General Assembly to urge the United States Congress to enact legislation otherwise known as the Employee Free Choice Act, which establishes an alternative system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations.

History: This resolution was with withdrawn by the sponsor.

Chamber Position: Oppose

Position Summary: The EFCA would elminate the use of the secret ballot in union organizing efforts, and replaces it with a "card check system." Trading the secret ballot process for one that invites intimidation and coercion and leads to widespread disenfranchisement of workers is not a step in the right direction.

The EFCA would also impose contract terms on private, unionzed employers through compulsory, binding arbitration if the employer and a newly certified union do not reach a first contract within a specified amount of time. Forced arbitration would impose unreasonable and inflexible terms and cause an employer to lose control over their operations, preventing them from growing their business.

For these reasons, the Maryland Chamber opposed this resolution.

Position Statement:

Chamber Staff: Allyson Black

General Assembly: Click here to view the bill on the Maryland General Assembly's website.