Card check legislation becomes hot campaign issue

With the fall political campaign season about to begin, ads are already flooding the airwaves concerning the proposed Employee Free Choice Act, which would provide an alternate way for workers to form bargaining units. A card check allows employees to signify their support for forming a union by signing a card, rather than voting by secret ballot. Business and conservative groups oppose the card check legislation, while unions and their supporters are pushing for it. The proposal currently enjoys majority support in Congress, but not enough support to get past a Senate filibuster or a certain presidential veto. Depending on the results, this fall’s election could change that. TV ads have already run targeting Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley, who supports it. According to the PR firm Conkling Fiskum & McCormick, such legislation could affect agricultural employers. In fact, the issue already has played a big role in a dispute between the United Farm Workers and the Beef Northwest Feeders feedlot in Boardman, Ore., the firm reports.