A little over a month before his election to Congress, Gerry Connolly sat down with dozens of technology company executives from the area he was running to represent.

At the board meeting of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, Connolly expected questions on issues unique to the industry, such as expanding broadband access or raising visa limits for highly skilled foreign workers. But the Fairfax County Board chairman also found himself defending the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), a controversial proposal to expand union membership.

Business associations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) have spent millions of dollars opposing the measure — also known as “card-check” — because they believe it would expand union memberships. The bill would allow workers to organize by signing a petition, instead of through a secret ballot. Critics say that could lead to intimidation of workers. Labor groups argue the bill will result in better wages and benefits by making it harder for management to block organizing efforts in the workplace.

Up to now, large tech groups have been on the sidelines in what is likely to be one of the roughest fights in Congress next year. A few, however, are preparing to weigh in. That makes other tech lobbyists nervous that, by doing so, the industry could sacrifice relatively good relationships with Democrats and, therefore, jeopardize some of their other legislative priorities.

Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, is on the side of weighing in.

“The tech industry has been asleep on the switch on this one,” Shapiro told The Hill. “If you want to devastate our country economically and shut us down every week with a strike, card-check is the answer.”

Shapiro’s group represents about 2,000 tech companies, including manufacturers and retailers. He says some member companies have threatened to move their operations overseas if the bill passes.

Until recently, that wasn’t much of a possibility. President Bush had promised to veto the bill if it ever reached his desk. But the bill died in the Senate last Congress. Democrats, though, have expanded their majorities in Congress and taken over the White House, making card-check a real possibility, Shapiro said.

Other tech groups don’t like the bill, either.

“Our board is very much opposed to the bill,” said John Palafoutas, senior vice president for AeA, a tech trade association with 2,500 member companies.

But the group seems sensitive to fears that being too aggressive in their opposition could damage their relationships with Democratic leaders, who support the bill.

Palafoutas said AeA will defer to the larger business associations in Washington, such as the Chamber and NFIB, to lead the campaign against card-check next year.

“The other groups are going to deploy resources on this. We are going to let members of Congress know where we stand, and we are going to move on,” he said.

Other tech lobbyists plan to take a similar tack of cautious opposition. Some, in fact, plan to avoid the melee altogether and leave it to the larger business community to push back against the bill.

“You can shoot yourself in the foot. Choose your battles wisely, especially when those battles can be fought by someone else,” said one tech lobbyist.