After months of nonstop speculation, the Employee Free Choice Act bill, which was introduced last year in Congress, is expected to be introduced later today by Rep. George Miller of California. 

But its passage this year is far from certain.  As the EFCA Report blog and others have stated, several senators, including Sen. Arlen Specter’s (R-PA), Sen. Lincoln (D-AR) and Sen. Landrieu (D-LA) are in the publicly undecided camp, leaving the filibuster in the Senate firmly in play for now. 

For employers, one thing is certain: You can use this time when the bill is being debated to hone up on the EFCA and prepare your workplace, if necessary, for its possible passage. Even if the EFCA is not passed this year, it is likely to come up for debate again and again. 

Frank Roche, of the KnowHR blog, has an interesting take on this as well with the publicity videos that have been rolling out both in favor of and against the passage of the bill as well. As Frank preaches, there’s no time like the present to get going on educating employees about the EFCA:

When is the best time to plant a tree? 10 years ago. And when is the best time to start communicating about EFCA? 10 months ago. If you didn’t already start, there’s no time like the present to get communicating about EFCA and its implications for your organization.

Update: 8:30 a.m.  Mike Allen’s Politico column has some other interesting nuggets about the EFCA’s introduction today:

• Intensifying its campaign to defeat the measure, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launches print and radio ads today in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Louisiana and Nebraska (all with key senators.) This coincides with nearly 200 small business leaders and Chamber members descending on the Hill to lobby against the measure. Afterward, some will tape interviews that will later be used in TV spots.
• LINGO: The measure would allow unions to organize based on signed cards instead of secret ballots. Business calls it “card check.” Democrats, who hate the term “card check” as much as “the Democrat Party,” call it the “Employee Free Choice Act” or “EFCA.”