The provision of a controversial bill that would give workers the right to unionize as soon as a majority of employees in a workplace signed cards saying they want a union has been dropped, a move designed to make it easier for the legislation to pass.

Sen. Tom Harkin

Sen. Tom Harkin

The bill, of which Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin is a sponsor and lead negotiator, has been stalled for months due to opposition from all Senate Republicans and a handful of Senate Democrats. Harkin said in May that in order to pass the bill the so-called card check portion would have to be eliminated. An aide to Harkin told the Iowa Independent last week that the senator was still confident that labor legislation could be passed this year.

Now, the New York Times reports that Harkin and a group of five other labor-friendly senators have decided to drop the provision to be replaced by language requiring shorter unionization campaigns and faster elections.

Kate Cyrul, Harkin’s communications director, told The Times “Nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to,” and declined to discuss the details of the changes.

Although labor leaders have been pressing for a vote on the bill this month, health care reform legislation has taken priority, making September likely the earliest the Senate will take up the measure.