EmployeeFreeChoiceAct

Labor Relations Specialists Support Clients in EFCA Strategy

Plymouth, Mi. January 2009. Associates supporting the Human Resource practice at Everest Training & Consulting use their decades of experience in negotiating labor agreements to help clients develop strategy in preparation for the likely passage of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA.)

"With all the focus on economic stimulus, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) has been under the radar yet, as written today, this Act has the potential to affect US business operations more that any stimulus plan" said Ken Werbylo, Human Resource Practice Leader at Everest Training & Consulting. "Union recognition after card checking is only the beginning. In my experience, negotiating 5 national and 2 local union agreements over the past 20 years, the Employee Free Choice Act provisions for federal mediation after only 90 days and interested arbitration after another 30 days severely limits and may even neutralize many of the strategies employers have used in the past. The Employee Free Choice Act will virtually guarantee the establishment of a target company's first contract. Organizations who feel they potentially are targets need to start preparing their strategies now" said Ken. "Some experts have compared the pending passage of the Act to the Y2K strategies and plans ten years ago" said Ed Pritchard, Managing Partner. "Some organizations will take proactive steps to maximize their position, others will wait until the last minute to implement preventative measures, and some will cross their fingers and hope they aren't affected." "Several of our Clients have asked us to guide their Human Resource teams in a project manager capacity. Just in case the 50% + 1 "cards" are placed on the table signaling that in 10 days the negotiation will begin: no campaigning, no secret vote -- just negotiation on the first contract." "We have several Associates with labor relations expertise that can work with labor attorneys and Human Resource Representatives to formulate the best strategy to address the Employee Free Choice Act."

Call today for a preliminary review of your risk level and suggested plan of action.

Everest Training & Consulting is committed to enabling organizations to innovate to profitability: to apply sound employee and labor relations, service and leadership skills to create a competitive advantage and to maximize each person's contribution through individual, professional, and personal growth. For further information contact Ed Pritchard at 734-455-4151.