IFA URGES NEW CONGRESS TO OPPOSE THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT

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For immediate release
Contact: Alisa Harrison, 202-628-8000


WASHINGTON, DC, Dec. 3, 2008—The International Franchise Association (IFA) today urged Congress to oppose the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), known as “Card Check,” when the 111st Congress convenes in January.

“This legislation is not labor reform,” David French, IFA vice president of Government Relations said in letters to every member of the House and Senate. “The legislation is an assault on the rights of employees and employers. The bill’s provisions have been specifically crafted to replace fairness in labor laws with expediency and will cause irreparable harm to the U.S. economy.”

Opposition to EFCA is a top legislative priority for the IFA’s members who represent more than 85 industries and employ more than 21 million workers. Passage of this law would restrict IFA members’ ability to grow their businesses and employ more people, harming the tax base of local economies and delaying recovery from the current economic recession. 

French explained that the EFCA mandates union recognition if a majority of employees in a designated bargaining unit signs authorization cards, but provides no safeguards to ensure that signatures are obtained fairly and freely. The bill also provides for a binding arbitration process if a first contract is not agreed to within 120 days of union recognition. If enacted, parties to contract negotiations will have little incentive to bargain in good faith, and contracts ultimately will be imposed on workers and employers by a third party. Finally, the bill imposes dramatic new penalties on employers for violations of the National Labor Relations Act, but not a single new penalty is proposed for union or labor organizers. 

“Elimination of the secret ballot for employees tips the scales to the favor of paid union organizers at the expense of employee privacy,” French said. “Members of Congress recognize that a secret ballot is a superior method of validating the views of the majority since all congressional leadership elections on both sides of the political aisle are conducted with a secret ballot. Why should employees be exposed to a grossly inferior standard of protection in the workplace?”

French outlined many important issues facing the future prosperity and economic competitiveness of franchising, including tax policy, health care reform and immigration reform. “We believe ‘card check’ is not the solution to address the challenges currently facing small franchised businesses or their invaluable employees,” French said. “We urge Congress to oppose this anti-worker and anti-competitive legislation.”

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About The International Franchise Association 
The International Franchise Association, the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising, is the preeminent voice and acknowledged leader for the industry worldwide. Approaching a half-century of service with a growing membership of more than 1,250 franchise systems, 10,000-plus franchisees and more than 500 firms that supply goods and services to the industry, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising by advancing the values of integrity, respect, trust, commitment to excellence, honesty and diversity. For more information, visit the IFA Web site www.franchise.org.

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