Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
StumbleLabor secretary leaves card check up to Congress
Published Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 1:05 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 4:14 p.m.
Sun Archives
- Unions clash as card check lies in wait (3-4-2009)
- Culinary parent union Unite Here to remain unified (2-9-2009)
- Big union reels as card-check fights loom (1-29-2009)
- Nobody wins: Second vote leaves nurses divided, unions' fight unresolved (12-5-2008)
- Toxic feud at SEIU's top ends with resignations (6-28-2008)
WASHINGTON -- Labor Secretary Hilda Solis supports the Employee Free Choice Act, a spokeswoman clarified today, even as she is leaving to Congress the best way to proceed on the thorny issue.
“She supports EFCA, has supported EFCA and will support whatever action Congress can ultimately take to restore balance and make it easier for workers to form unions and increase wages,” a Labor spokeswoman said. "She believes that unions help grow the middle class."
Solis was on the Hill today in one of her first appearances since a prolonged confirmation process.
During her confirmation hearing, Solis declined to provide an opinion on the so-called card check issue, frustrating Republicans who largely oppose the measure.
The legislation would make it easier for unions to organize and is staunchly opposed by the business community.
Solis’ support for an earlier version of the bill as a congresswoman fueled scrutiny of her nomination as Labor secretary. She served on the board of a main advocacy organization.
Solis said today the details will be for Congress to decide.
“The president and I are supportive that people have the ability to bargain collectively if they choose to be part of the union, the president and I agree with that,” she told reporters after a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing. “But in terms of what the product will look like that’s entirely up to the Senate and the House.”
She added, “That will be a Senate and congressional decision because they’re the ones that are going to decide the end product.”
Solis recently appeared on the “The Rachel Maddow Show” and discussed the bill.
“The president and I are on record in support of this legislation -- I as a former member of Congress, he as a former senator. But he continues, as I do, to believe that this is a good bill and we would hope to see it passed,” Solis said on the show.
The issue may be moot. Several key senators have dropped their support for the bill, slimming its chances of passage. However, some senators are working on alternatives, hoping to broker a compromise.
Discussion: comments so far…
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy. Additionally, we now display comments from trusted commenters by default. Those wishing to become a trusted commenter need to verify their identity or sign in with Facebook Connect to tie their Facebook account to their Las Vegas Sun account. For more on this change, read our story about how it works and why we did it.
Only trusted comments are displayed on this page. Untrusted comments have expired from this story.
No trusted comments have been posted.
Post a comment
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Discussed
- E-mailed
- Two dead after accident in downtown Las Vegas
- Superstar Whitney Houston dies at 48
- Instant Analysis: Debating whether UNLV should continue series with San Diego State
- Police looking for man in white Ford Explorer
- Dining Guide: 2012 Valentine’s Day options in Las Vegas
- Four people injured in car accident
- Color from the scene at Thomas & Mack Center: We have a wire job! Rebels win, and Louie Armstrong sings!
- Blog: Justin Hawkins’ steal seals UNLV’s thrilling 65-63 victory against San Diego State
- After Nevada and Florida wins, Mitt Romney trying to prove he’s ‘severely conservative’ to CPAC base
- UNLV makes key plays down stretch to hold off San Diego State 65-63
Blogs
The Kats Report
Color from scene at Thomas & Mack: We have a wire job! Rebels win, and Louie Armstrong sings!
South Point owner Michael Gaughan's take on 'Vegas Stripped': 'I'll give it an 8' (4 Comments)
Author relishes writing the life story of ‘larger-than-life’ Oscar Goodman (3 Comments)
Elsewhere
Landowner: All roads could lead to Uxbridge casino
Revel reveals smoke-free casino opening
Cirque du Soleil show in Sands China casino to close this month
Meet the woman behind Sheldon Adelson
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Harry Reid loses another one
Stern Considers Alternatives to EFCA
The Washington Post
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009...
Speaking to The Post's editorial board, Stern noted that there are ways to try to level the playing field in union elections without giving workers a way around the secret ballot requirement, such as shortening the window before elections are held -- thus giving employers less time to pressure workers -- and stiffening penalties for employer violations.
"We are on the hunt for a solution," he said. "No matter what you do, you have to change the election process. Whether it's majority sign up or not, workers have to have a choice about having an election. The bill has to address ... fast elections, eliminating employer behavior and what happens if there are employer violations. Regardless, that needs to be done."
EFCA Thinking Outside of The Box to Get The Employee Free Choice Act Passed!
http://efcanow.blogspot.com/2009/03/thin...
Amending The Employee Free Choice Act. A Compromise Every Union Can Live With.
http://efcanow.blogspot.com/2009/01/amen...
EFCA A Reform Movement Has Just Been Formed:The Employee Free Choice Act Labor Reform Movement
http://efcanow.blogspot.com/
I believe the process of union elections needs to be done in a more timely manner. I disagree totally with the card check process. In my experience the only people who really needed unions were those that didn't want fulfill their obligations and job requirements.
Another Obama liar. She's not a tax cheat but lied during the confirmation hearings. Another far left winger who wants to bring down the country.
Indianapolis hotel workers are currently engaged in a struggle of historic proportions. The Employee Free Choice Act is not just being fought for in the Senate and House Chambers in Washington, but in the streets of Indy, where huge majorities of hotel workers at the Westin, Hyatt, and Sheraton hotels are demanding that the corporations respect their right to a fair process. The passage of EFCA would give these workers the union. Here is a video about their struggle:
http://gallery.mac.com/lynfilm#100093/Ra...