Battle looms over right to unionize

With Democrats in control of Congress, labor will try to make unionizing as simple as signing a card, a move which business is already challenging as an assault on the secret-ballot process.

The battle will begin on Tuesday when lawmakers introduce the Employee Free Choice Act, which would not only streamline unionizing, but also assure newly organized workers a contract and sanction lawbreakers. It would enable workers to unionize simply by having a majority sign up, rather than by holding a vote as they now must do.

Passage is considered likely in the House of Representatives but is more uncertain in the Senate.