Union Bill's Declining Chances Give Rise to Alternatives

Founding partner David P. Radelet was recently quoted in an article published in the Washington Post on the subject of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). As noted at the beginning of the article, "[w]ith the prospects for a landmark pro-union proposal looking increasingly shaky in Congress, senators in both parties are seeking other ways to reform labor laws, potentially reshaping what many expected to be a defining showdown of Barack Obama's presidency." In the wake of Sen. Arlen Specter's (R-Pa.) announcement that he would reverse his support for EFCA, an increasing number of members of Congress are exploring other ways to help organized labor.

Sen. Specter, facing the prospect of losing his Senate seat in either the primary or general 2010 elections, warns that "[t]he business community has to look at the potential for my not being there after 2010."   Mr. Radelet says that Specter's 2010 warnings should be heeded:  "It does create pressure for the business community to get something done now," he said.

 The full text of the Washington Post article can be found here.