Chamber of Commerce

A pro-business bus tour organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will come to Portland Thursday to promote its opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act.

The EFCA has emerged as a major issue for third-party business and labor interests both locally and nationally. The legislation seeks to make it make it easier for unions to organize by requiring that they be recognized if a majority of the potential collective bargaining units sign an authorization card.

Opponents criticize the act argue that the new system would take away the private ballot in the workplace, which proponents say is not true. Under the current system – which will still be an option if the law is enacted – organizers must get 30 percent of the potential unit to sign authorization cards and then an election is held.

The bus will register voters from 12 to 2 p.m. Thursday at Monument Square. A media briefing is planned at 11.