The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass on Thursday a bill that would allow workers to organize as soon as a majority of employees sign a card in favor of a union.

The measure, called the Employee Free Choice Act, faces less certain prospects in the Senate, strong opposition from U.S. business interests, and a likely presidential veto if it manages to cross those hurdles.

The bill would allow the so-called “card check” process to establish union shops, versus today’s rules that allow card check majorities to call for union elections, but for establishment of a union requires a majority vote in a secret ballot.

Because the “card check” process is not private, critics say it will force employees not in favor of the union to sign the cards as a result of pressure from union organizing leaders and co-workers.

The bill is strongly opposed by the National Association of Manufacturers, which says it will “further erode the competitive capabilities of American manufacturers,” in a letter to congressional members.

SCDigest believes there are special risks to companies running distribution centers – still largely un-unionized - from passage of such a bill, as even relatively small operations could be unionized almost over night…