Senator DeMint held a conference call today to discuss the Employee 'Forced' Choice Act. The proposed legislation calls for mandatory, binding arbitration between unions and employers. Unlike traditional arbitration, under this bill, a government arbitrator would have the authority to largely dictate the terms of the contracts.

If the EFCA were to become law, it would likely cost an estimated 600,000 thousand jobs in the first year alone. This provision amounts to a government takeover of small business and would restrict employees from making their own decisions regarding their employment.

Senator DeMint referenced the removal of the ‘card check’ provision from the bill as a “straw man” which supporters of the legislation point to as a sign of a bipartisan compromise. However, the real danger lies with the mandatory arbitration provision, allowing bureaucrats to hold sway over both employers and employees.

Unions, which make up roughly 7% of our nation’s workforce, are pushing hard to see this legislation enacted into law. This bill would undoubtedly strengthen their control and bolster their coffers, making it much harder for small business owners to keep their doors open.

Senator DeMint warned of the expanse of federal control over our nation’s workforce at a time when our economy is faltering and pointed to the archaic role unions currently play in a changing society:

"Labor Unions are no longer a functional aspect of a global economy."

Another provision in the EFCA would force companies to share in the liability of pension funds that are operating in the red due to union mismanagement. These additional costs would serve as a death-knell for small businesses operating with limited budgets and already finding it hard to make ends meet.

The EFCA, like Cap and Trade and health care reform, is legislation that should be soundly defeated.