American Rights at Work: Partnerships that Work

by Mike Hall, Sep 24, 2006

What do the American Electric Power Co. (AEP) and the North Philadelphia Health System (NPHS) have in common? They are two employers that work with their workers’ unions to meet both the needs of the workers and the business objectives in the global economy.

And they are two of the seven firms that made the annual American Rights at Work Partnerships that Work list. The list recognizes:

successful partnerships between employers and their employees’ labor unions that are working well in the global economy. While many companies profess that they must implement massive layoffs, slash benefits, employ temporary and cheap labor, and hire union busters to prevent workers from forming unions in order to remain profitable in today’s marketplace, the practices of these businesses suggest there is another way.

The companies on the Partnerships that Work list are a cross-section of national and regional public and private employers that American Rights at Work describes as setting:

…new standards for 21st century labor relations that balance profitability with workers’ needs and rights. By fairly compensating employees and sharing decision-making responsibility with them through unions, these employers prove that embracing such a forward-thinking business model is a smart, ethical, and successful strategy.

At AEP, management and the workers’ unions—the Electrical Workers, USW International Union, Mine Workers and Utility Workers—work together to improve safety, productivity job security and working conditions.

The NPHS—where workers are members of AFSCME and the unaffiliated SEIU—agreed to provide workers a free and fair choice to form a union and also established a truly collaborative partnership with the health care employees that translates into high-quality patient care.

The workers’ watchdog group American Rights at Work offers the full list of Partnerships that Work here. And click here to see the 2005 list.

Although these companies deserve recognition for respecting their workers’ rights to join a union and their obligation to negotiate fair contractors with their workers’ unions, far too many don’t.

In fact, huge numbers of employers every year wage a war on workers fighting to exercise their rights to form unions. The tactics range from harassment, intimidation and coercion to firings and to close plants.

But the bipartisan Employee Free Choice Act—with 216 co-sponsors in the House and 43 in the Senate—would strengthen protections for workers’ freedom to choose by requiring employers to recognize a union after a majority of workers signs cards authorizing union representation. It also would provide for mediation and arbitration of first-contract disputes and authorize stronger penalties for violation of the law when workers seek to form a union.

Click here to find out more about the Employee Free Choice Act and here to learn more about the AFL-CIO Voice@Work campaign. Stop by here for information on the expected National Labor Relations Board decision on the “Kentucky River” cases that could eliminate the rights of millions of workers to join unions.

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