December 10, 2008

Law360 Column: Changes Coming to Labor Law

President-elect Barack Obama's victory virtually guarantees that some form of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) will become law in 2009. Briggs and Morgan shareholders John C. Hauge and Michael J. Moberg discuss the implications of its passing in “Dramatic Changes on the Way in Labor Law,” as published by Portfolio Media on Law360.com.

For the first time in over 50 years, Congress is poised to make significant changes to the National Labor Relations Act. Passage of EFCA, which Obama has promised to labor unions will be a high priority in his administration, will radically alter the landscape for union elections. According to the authors, EFCA will likely:

1. eliminate the need for a secret ballot vote by employees in order to unionize, and 
2. impose binding mandatory arbitration to decide the terms of a first contract if an employer and a union cannot reach agreement on contract terms.

To read the full article, click here.