Catherwood LibraryILR School

Organized labor is fighting for a pro-union bill as if its life depended on it. Some labor experts say the union movement?s ability to reverse its slide could in fact hinge on its winning passage of the bill, which would make it easier for workers to join unions. The United States Chamber of Commerce, the National Retail Federation and more than a dozen other business groups are mounting a fierce campaign to stop the bill, inundating Congress with more than 10,000 e-mail messages and letters. At the same time, labor unions are sponsoring demonstrations, conferences and meetings in 99 cities this month to push for the legislation. The two sides have also squared off with newspaper advertisements.