Bonior-Chaired Group Launches EFCA Push

A labor advocacy group chaired by former Rep. David Bonior (D-Mich.), a prominent member of President-elect Barack Obama’s economic transition team, will launch a national TV ad campaign Sunday pushing for passage of the controversial Employee Free Choice Act.

American Rights at Work released its TV ad today. It will air nationwide on CNN, MSNBC, CNN Headline News, and locally on major network affiliates during Sunday talk shows, according to the group.

The group says it will launch a print and online ad campaign the following week.

The Employee Free Choice Act would allow workers to form unions without holding secret ballot elections, increase penalties on employers who violate labor laws, and mandate third-party arbitration when newly formed unions and employers cannot agree to initial contracts. The bill passed the House overwhelmingly in March of 2007, then fell nine Senate votes short of the 60 required to bring it to the upper chamber’s floor.

Labor groups are hopeful they can push the bill through in 2009 with an expanded Democratic majority. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) was the only Republican to vote for the bill in 2007.

Bonior, who chairs American Rights at Work, had this to say in the press release announcing the ad: