First cracks appear in US bosses opposition to Union rights legislation

The US media and a number of websites are carrying news items this weekend that a number of US retail companies are ready to propose a compromise to the President Obama backed Employee Free Choice Act which would give workers a straightforward "card check' on whether they wish to form a union.

The EFCA would also reduce the ability of US companies and the multi-million dollar union busting industry to interfere, bully and dismiss workers who wish to join a union and be represented by a union of their choice.

US media is reporting that companies such as Starbucks, Costco and Whole Food are among the employers considering an approach being called “70-30,” in which workers could organise a union if 70 percent of them sign union authorisations cards.

According to one source: "A powerful coalition of retail business is considering what they once claimed was unthinkable: a compromise on the union-backed labor bill that opponents call “card check". The businesses plan to make a public splash with their alternative plan in the coming week".

The source said Starbucks, Costco and Whole Food are among the employers considering an approach being called “70-30,” in which workers could organize if 70 percent of them sign union authorisations cards.

Another source said “99.9 percent” of opponents will not compromise.

But Katie Packer, executive director of the Workforce Fairness Institute said: “Calling a proposal which exposes 70% of employees to intimidation instead of 50% a ‘compromise’ is beyond absurd."

A Starbucks official told The Washington Post: “"We have had conversations with like-minded companies and are open to exploring alternative solutions to the legislation as it is currently written.”

Watch this space for the reaction of US unions........