Contact: Elisabeth A. Hershman, Esq. Van Prooyen Greenfield LLP (212) 289-6734 ehershman@vpgllp.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jackson Lewis Attorneys and Senator George McGovern Featured on Labor Day CBS Radio Show Discussing Issues at Stake with Employee Free Choice Act
EFCA poses tremendous risks to American business Bill would muzzle management and reduce employee choice in unionizing drives
September 3, 2008 Philadelphia - Jackson Lewis LLP, one of the country’s largest and fastest growing workplace law firms, hosted a Labor Day radio program on the topic of The Employee Free Choice Act on Monday. The program discussed the many dangers of making EFCA law including restricting employee rights and creating a hostile environment for global companies considering doing business in The United States.
"People need to understand that if they do not act this bill will become a reality and our country's great tradition of fostering a productive relationship between employers and employees will evaporate," says Martin F. Payson, a recognized workplace law expert and partner at the national employment law firm, Jackson Lewis LLP. “If they care about having a truly free choice on union matters, employees should contact their representatives to spread the word about the realities of this deceptive piece of legislation."
The program was hosted by Martin F. Payson and Michael J. Lotito, both recognized workplace law experts and partners at the national employment law firm, Jackson Lewis LLP. Also participating were George McGovern, the former United States Representative, Senator, and Democratic presidential nominee, and Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus. Mr. McGovern published an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal on August 8, 2008 articulating why EFCA threatens democracy as we know it in this country by effectively silencing those in the labor movement who most need their voices heard.
"Congress feels obligated to pass this bill because of all the money that the Unions have spent. If Obama is elected this bill will most certainly pass, there should be no mistake." says Michael J. Lotito, a recognized workplace law expert and partner at the national employment law firm, Jackson Lewis LLP. “In this global economy, companies have a choice. If EFCA passes, American jobs will be lost and the economy will suffer terribly because companies will not want to open factories in this country."
The so-called Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) would grant unions certification as soon as they had collected signature cards from half the workers, effectively stripping workers of their right to vote in a government supervised secret ballot election. EFCA would also impose substantial fines for employers' mistakes, as well as force first contracts determined by a third party arbitrator, even if the employer and the union both might disagree with the mandated final contract terms.
The radio program aired on the Philadelphia affiliate of CBS Radio, 1210 am, known as "The Big Talker." A podcast of the program and additional information about EFCA is available at http://efca.jacksonlewis.com/
About Jackson Lewis LLP Founded in 1958, Jackson Lewis LLP is dedicated to representing management exclusively in workplace law. With offices in 39 cities and 500 attorneys, Jackson Lewis has developed a specialized expertise in every aspect of employment, labor, benefits and immigration law. Additional information about Jackson Lewis LLP can be found at www.jacksonlewis.com.
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