New Academic Study Debunks EFCA

by Mike Eastman

A new study by University of Chicago Professor Richard A. Epstein, The Case Against the Employee Free Choice Act, was released today. The 125-page study (PDF), to be published by The Hoover Institute at Stanford University, is an extensive analysis and critique of the legislation.

Professor Epstein’s analysis describes how EFCA would toss aside the National Labor Relations Act’s careful balance among union, employer, and employee interests. He examines the card check provisions of the bill as well as the mandatory interest arbitration provisions and discusses probable economic consequences.

Among his conclusions are that "the likely consequence of EFCA is that it will reduce income and employment across the board" and that "the level of unrest in labor relations will increase, and do so in a time when the economy is still likely to suffer from a general slowdown." Some key excerpts from the study are available here.

Professor Epstein’s study fills an important gap in the debate about EFCA and should be required reading for policymakers.

Comments

[Terry]

Don't buy American? Are you crazy? What a terrible thing to say. I don't care what this post states - the US is still the best place on earth to live!

[jimmy]

The chamber has its blinders on,and can no longer see the damage it is causing by echoing the voices of people who seek to destroy american individualism. Remove u.s out of your name. American's are not represnted well by your intrest's.

[Jeff]

THe U.S. Chamber of Commmerce is anti-union, anti-American worker amd pro- corporation (multi-trans national)and pro-cheap foreign labor. You make me sick and you are what's wrong in the world today.
GOD will punish you for your corrupt, greedy ways

[wayne]

Why is the US Chamber of Commerce afraid of the EFCA. Maybe some of their office workers would organize. If they would look back in history they might understand why Labor Unions were formed. the same conditions have been coming back, like the gentlmen above suggested look up Labor Violations in the Dept. of Labor State and Federal, also check OSHA,

[gregorylgilbert]

As a recent democrat convert I am glad that all of the cheap labor illegal aliens, will be busting all of the labor unions which are driving our factories out of business. After all think of all the new democratic voters we will have. Also unions will go bust because i think also buying american is bad for the democrats. The union employees must step beside for the illegals because it is a new world order. Teachers, Fire Fighters, Police, and Gov workers you are next. You need to go for the advancement of the Dem Party. Sincerely OB

[Ron Clausnitzer]

More made up studies (guessing) by an alleged scholar. Let me tell you, if employees don't have the right to choose their representation, they are subject to all sorts of harassment from their employers. The company I work for has always been anti-union, saying it's not needed. They have been wrongfully terminating, harassing, lying to, and setting up their employees to fail from the get go. It has always taken a court order to stop them from their hostile, discriminatory, and retaliatory tactics. Wages have also stagnated over the years while they have been posting record profits, year after year. Stop with the phony studies and take a look at the real world.

[George F]

Is it me or does there seem to be a theme here ? Anti American worker, anti Union, anti poor, and only for what is good for the money hungry rich. Does this sound like a group that should have U.S. in their name ? I don't thinks so

[Mr. Data]

It is fundamentally wrong to continually strive to remove opportunities, fairness, and the hope of ever achieving the American Dream from the low - middle income class of America.

The very fiber of our nation that built America into an economic super power is now being attacked relentlessly, as if it is the plague.

Some Americans in high places with connections and protections against losing their livelyhood in America appear to support this HAVE & HAVE NOT philosophy. But they are wrong. America should not be losing millions and millions of manufacturing jobs. Any American who is not fearful of that trend has blinders on -- or is benefitting from the plight of their fellow Americans. Both of those anger me!

I do not understand how any American can think it is OK for our American businesses (local or multi-national) to profit by having illegal immigrants, foreign workers here legally on H1-B Visas, or foreigners located off-shore working for them at much lower wage than an American worker will who is struggling to survive here in the USA! That behavior is unconscionable, based upon pure greed, and needs to be eliminated (and punished).

Americans need to get their country and its opportuntiies back!

[Keith Thompson]

It is interesting that our new presedent, I heard was
an ex muslin converted to a Christian belief [?], Now he seems to be giving preferance treatment to Gotonomo prisioners and indicating not suporting Isreal and its fight with moslum countrys.The Bible indecates that Russa and China are 2 possable powers that will be in the battle in the last days aginst Isreal and some how the U.S. has borrowed money from China that will control us by callilng in their loan if we try to help. Hitler promised to help Germany, he did away with freedom of speech, invoked gun control, no guns, jail time or worse if you disagreed, forced labor and put his country in jeprody. Helo, does this sound safe.

[WAYNE CORREL]

WHAT HAS THE CHAMBER DONE TO HELP EMPLOYEES
DON'T BUY AMERICAN IT WILL HURT OTHER COUNTRIES
ITS OK IF EMPLOYERS HARRAS OR THREATEN TO CLOSE PLANTS DOWN OR LAYOFFS, AND THEN FIRE THEM.
HOW MANY UNFAIR LABOR CHARGES ARE FILLED AGINST THEM. WALL MART CLOSE TO 100 MILLION IN CLASS ACTION SUITES FOR VARIOUS VIOLATIONS AGINST EMPLOYEES THATS OK THROUGH THEIR A GOOD COMPANY
A SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO CHANGE YOUR NAME TO

EMPLOYERS UNION CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

[Charles Torres]

Mr Epstein is crazy if he thinks that nonunion employees can command better wages and working conditions