GOP Sure They Can Block Unions' Bill - AP

GOP Sure They Can Block Unions' Bill

By JESSE J. HOLLAND
The Associated Press
Tuesday, June 26, 2007; 4:53 AM

WASHINGTON -- Unions seeking to make employers recognize
them without secret-ballot elections are portraying a test
vote in the Senate as only an early skirmish in their drive
to make it easier to get a better foothold in workplaces.

The Democratic-controlled House passed the bill in March but
Republicans are confident they have the 41 votes needed to
block it in the Senate. That's all it takes under Senate rules
requiring a three-fifths majority to advance controversial
legislation over opponents' objections.

"It deserves to be defeated and I am confident that it will
be," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said
leading up to a vote Tuesday on what Democrats have
labeled the Employee Free Choice Act.

The bill would require employers to recognize unions after
being presented union cards signed by a majority of eligible
workers on their payrolls. Under current labor law, a company
can demand a secret ballot election supervised by the federal
government after being presented the union cards.

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