Pending Legislation Could Open the Financial Services Industry to Unionization. Are You Ready?

The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), labor law reform legislation currently under consideration by the United States Congress, is organized labor’s top legislative issue going into the 2008 Presidential elections. This proposed legislation, which Congress has been working on under the radar since 2003, would bring about the most sweeping changes to America’s labor laws since the National Labor Relations Act was passed in 1935.

The EFCA affects those private sector employers who employ the 92.7% of the U.S. workforce that is currently unrepresented by a labor union. Traditionally, financial services has been a hard industry for labor unions to break into. If the EFCA passes, that is likely to change, as passage of the EFCA would dramatically increase the pace of union organizing and the cost of doing business in virtually all sectors of the economy and in all regions of the country.

If enacted, the union-sponsored EFCA would dramatically shift the balance of power in the American workplace by amending the National Labor Relations Act in three main ways:

• Eliminating employee secret ballot elections in favor of “card check” union certification,
• Dramatically increasing penalties for employer unfair labor practices, and
• Imposing contract terms on employers through binding, third-party interest arbitration, where no first contract is reached after 120 days of bargaining.

This breakfast briefing will explain the significant changes proposed by the EFCA, the enormous impact it will have on the labor relations landscape, and the responsive steps your company should consider taking NOW, in preparation.

Don't be caught unprepared for what could be the most comprehensive change to labor laws since the New Deal.

Agenda:

8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. - Registration and Breakfast
8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. - Program

Who Should Attend:

This briefing is directed toward members of the General Counsel's office, HR Directors, HR staff, and managers and advisors to employing entities in the Financial Services Industry who have a predominantly non-union workforce

Speakers:

Gary Glaser, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Richard M. Reice, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Paul Galligan, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
(click link to view biographies)

New York CLE:

1.5 Credits

There is no cost to attend this event. Registration is required and seating is limited.

If you have any questions, please contact Courtney Eddings at (212) 218-3352 or ceddings@seyfarth.com.

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Seyfarth Shaw LLP is an approved provider of New York Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit. This seminar is approved for 1.5 hours of credit in Professional Practice, and is appropriate for both transitional and nontransitional attorneys. Please note that in order to receive full credit for attending this briefing, the registrant must be present for the entire session.