US Agency to Cease Facilitating Easier Unionization Process
The Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS) has announced it will stop facilitating the "card check" process, a method allowing unions to gain recognition once a majority of employees express support by signing authorization cards. This process serves as an alternative to secret ballot elections overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, which can involve intense campaigning and potential disputes. FMCS's decision aligns with the current administration's priorities, as the agency reassesses its role in labor-management relations. Unions express concern that this change may hinder organizing efforts, while employers may view it as a move toward maintaining traditional union recognition procedures. Moving forward, unions and employers might need to seek alternative neutral parties to oversee the card check process or rely more heavily on NLRB-conducted elections.
See "US Agency to Cease Facilitating Easier Unionization Process", Josh Eidelson, Bloomberg, March 10, 2025