Hofstra Labor and Employment Law Journal Presents “Employee Free Choice” Panel

Hofstra Law School, Hempstead, N.Y. —

Hofstra’s Labor and Employment Law Journal will present a panel-debate on "The Employee Free Choice Act - The Right or Wrong Choice for America?" on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 6 p.m.  The program will take place in the Sidney R. Siben and Walter Siben Moot Courtroom (Room 308) and is open to the public.  Two non-transitional CLE credits in professional practice are available.  For more information and to register, visit law.hofstra.edu/EFCA.

The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is proposed legislation that would allow employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation, establish harsher penalties for unfair labor practice violations and institute new mediation and arbitration processes for first-contract disputes.

The potential passage of EFCA is one of the most significant and controversial developments in the area of labor law since the National Labor Relations Act.  As the debate over EFCA continues, the Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal will provide a forum for each side to present its argument in support of, or in opposition to, EFCA.  

Eric J. Schmertz, the former Dean of Hofstra Law School, will moderate the panel-debate during which management and labor representatives will address the most contested provisions of EFCA.  Stewart Acuff, Organizing Director of the AFL-CIO and Amy Young, an Attorney at the Communications Workers of America, District 1, will represent the labor side of the EFCA debate.  The management side will be represented by Randel K. Johnson, Vice President of Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Martin F. Payson, a Partner at Jackson Lewis LLP.

Before the panel-debate, Hofstra Law School will hold a reception to rededicate The Jonathan Falk Memorial Seminar and Study Room (Room 301).  Thanks to the generosity of the Falk Family and Jackson Lewis LLP, the room was recently renovated and outfitted with the latest technology.  Jonathan Falk was a member of the Class of 1977 and an associate at Jackson Lewis LLP.  The reception and rededication begins at 5 p.m.