By Richard Hankins, Kilpatrick Stockton Labor Attorney

By an 8-3 vote, the House Rules Committee today passed   a resolution that would govern the full House’s consideration of the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800).  The rule, if adopted by the House, would permit one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Education and Labor and would limit the number of amendments to the three specified below.

The amendments, and the amount of time for debate would be as follows:

1. King, Steve (IA):  Adds a section to the bill to amend the National Labor Relations Act to discourage the practice of 'salting'.  This amendment will change the NLRA to ensure that a company's workers are employed for the sole benefit of that company. (10 minutes).
 
 2. Foxx (NC):  The amendment requires the National Labor Relations Board to promulgate standards and a model notice for an employee to put him- or herself on a “do not call or contact” list to avoid union solicitation. (10 minutes).
 
3. McKeon (CA):  Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute. This amendment in the nature of a substitute would strike the underlying text and insert in its place the text of H.R. 866, the Secret Ballot Protection Act.  The amendment would prohibit the recognition of unions via card check, and provide that a union may only be recognized and certified after a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board. (30 minutes).

For a list of proposed amendments that would not be permitted under the proposed rule, follow THIS LINK.

The House Republican Whip Notice does not indicate that any other bills will be considered and notes:

On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.  Last votes expected: 4:00 p.m.

The House Democratic Whip Notice was not available as of this posting.

 EFCA Updates will monitor the proceedings and will post updates throughout the day.