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ARTICLE · 30 SEPTEMBER 2009

The Future Of EFCA - "A Moving Target"

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The debate over the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is heating up, but the situation remains very fluid. Recent statements by President Obama, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and key Democratic Senators reflect continued public support for EFCA.

United StatesEmployment and HR
Barnes & Thornburg’S Labor & Employment Group
Barnes & Thornburg’S Labor & Employment Group
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The debate over the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is heating up, but the situation remains very fluid. Recent statements by President Obama, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and key Democratic Senators reflect continued public support for EFCA. Most notably, yesterday, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) announced at his speech to the AFL-CIO that he, Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) have "pounded out" a compromise with labor leaders that he believes will lead to the passage of a bill "before the year is out...which will be totally satisfactory to labor." However, late yesterday Sen. Specter's office backpedaled and said Specter was simply being optimistic about a compromise and clarified, "there's no deal, so [there's' no language to share." Sen. Harkin now is also denying that a deal has been reached, as is organized labor.

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