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Yay or Nay: EFCA: A good bill? Will it pass?

A week ago today, some employers cringed as Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) introduced the Employee Free Choice Act in the House and Senate (known in less-approving circles as "card check").

If approved, the most controversial aspect of the bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to allow for non-secret union elections, letting employees vote yes or no by checking a card. Further, the measure lets employers and unions send contract bargaining to mediation and binding arbitration, and increases penalties against employers that fire or discriminate against workers for union activity.

Supporters say the bill will strengthen unions -- and by extension, benefits and wages -- and lessen employers' ability to strongarm workers against unionizing. Detractors say the bill would make unions more aggressive and employers more likely to send jobs overseas.

What do you say? Is EFCA a good bill? And either way, will it ultimately be approved? Yay or nay?

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