IFA Calls for House to Block NLRB Ambush Elections, Micro-Unions

For immediate release

Contact:
Alisa Harrison, 202-628-8000
Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770

aharrison@franchise.org

mhaller@franchise.org

twitter.com/franchising411

WASHINGTON, November 29, 2011 – The International Franchise Association today urged the U.S. House of Representatives to pass H.R. 3094, the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act sponsored by Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), legislation that would block controversial moves by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to allow “ambush” union organizing elections and the formation of micro-unions.

“Recent NLRB actions dramatically tipped the scales in favor of unions at the expense of franchise small business owners and job creators in every congressional district in America,” said Judith Thorman, IFA Senior Vice President for Government Relations & Public Policy. “We call on all members of the House to vote in favor of this legislation to protect workers’ rights to information about union representation and tore-establish the important balance struck by the National Labor Relations Act between unions, employers and their workers.”

Over the course of the past year, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a series of final decisions and proposed rules that directly impact franchise businesses and which are highly favorable to unions and organized labor. IFA has fought back against these rulings through a variety of legislative, regulatory, and legal tactics in order to ensure franchise businesses can focus their energy on creating jobs amidst a continued challenging economic environment.

“H.R. 3094 directly addresses these recent and economically crippling actions of the National Labor Relations Board
,”says Thorman. “The Kline bill would reverse the Board’s recent decision in
Specialty Healthcare, which poses an immediate and direct threat by opening the door to swarms of micro-unions. If this legislation is not immediately passed, the country risks economic uncertainty and serious negative ramifications for millions of employers, U.S. workers, and consumers.”

The Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act would prevent the NLRB from imposing dramatic changes to the workplaces of America’s franchise businesses. Specifically, the legislation:

Ensures employers are able to participate in a fair union election process. The legislation provides employers at least 14 days to prepare their case to present before a NLRB election officer and an opportunity to raise additional concerns throughout the pre-election hearing.
Guarantees workers have the ability to make a fully informed decision in a union election. No union election will be held in less than 35 days. Workers will have a chance to hear both sides of the debate and important issues that can determine how a worker votes will be decided before ballots are cast.
Reinstates the traditional standard for determining which employees will vote in the union election, restoring a standard that was developed through years of careful consideration and Congressional guidance.
Protects workers’ privacy by empowering workers to choose the type of personal contact information that is provided to the union.

To read IFA’s Key Vote letter delivered to the House,

click here

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About the International Franchise Association

The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating over 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA works through its government relations, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising. Through its media awareness campaign highlighting the theme,
Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the economic impact of the franchise industry, which represents over 825,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.