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Message Spreading Across Country: Pass Employee Free Choice Act |
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Rep. John Yarmuth sports a button showing his support for workers’ freedom to choose a union. |
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Members of Congress across the country are hearing from thousands of working family activists that it’s time to end the unfair process that denies workers their freedom to join unions and bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions.
Over the weekend, workers launched a week of action to push for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800). In nearly 100 cities, at news conferences, worker roundtables, rallies and other gatherings across the country, workers and union and community leaders are connecting with more than 130 members of Congress—thanking those who support the Employee Free Choice Act and demanding better from those who don’t.
Today, more than 25 events are scheduled, including roundtable discussions with workers who are trying to form unions in Rochester, Minn.; Muskogee, Okla.; Orange County, Calif.; Portland, Maine; and Honolulu. Click here to find an Employee Free Choice Act event near you. In Louisville, Ky., yesterday, Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) joined 260 union members who were rallying in favor of the bill. Yarmuth, one of 233 co-sponsors of the legislation, says it is one of his top priorities:
Even as their productivity has risen, the American worker has seen a drop in wages over the last six years. This legislation reinforces the rights of workers to negotiate for better wages, benefits, and working conditions, and it is a major victory for working men and women across the country. This will give a lot of people a real chance to progress economically. Workers told Yarmuth and the crowd what really happens to workers who try to form unions.
One of the workers, Charlie Hornback, a member of Electrical Workers Local 369, said workers at his former employer had to vote twice before they were able to join a union—the first election was overturned by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) because of the employer’s unfair tactics. But the struggle is not over. Three years after their effort began, the workers still do not have a first contract.
Kentucky State AFL-CIO President William Londrigan says these stories show how badly the Employee Free Choice Act is needed:
These real-life experiences of workers demonstrates unequivocally the need for legislation to protect their freedom to form a union.
In meetings with their legislators, workers are pointing out that the Employee Free Choice Act, despite what its critics say, is in the best interest of all Americans. Dozens of civil rights, community and business leaders, as well as academics, support the legislation. Julian Bond, chairman of the NAACP, says the freedom to join a union is a basic human right.
Yet employers routinely retaliate against workers by firing them, threatening to close their worksites and by otherwise intimidating them. These ongoing workplace human rights violations are the major reasons why so many workers are denied good jobs, good wages and good healthcare benefits.
Hugh Walsh, assistant vice president of American Income Life Insurance Co., says giving workers a free choice is in line with the values America preaches to the world:
I always find it strange that our government seems to support the idea of free labor markets in other countries (Poland, Japan, etc.) while systematically helping to undermine workers in this country trying to build their unions.
The House Education and Labor Committee voted Feb. 14 to send the Employee Free Choice Act to the full House for a vote. The committee vote was 26-19 in favor of advancing the legislation (H.R. 800), which was introduced Feb. 5 and has the bipartisan support of 233 co-sponsors.
The legislation would give workers greater freedom to make their own decisions about joining a union to bargain for a better life by:
- Establishing stronger penalties for violations of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations;
- Providing mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes; and
- Allowing employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation.
3 Comments
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It would be nice if it would pass, but what chance does it have? Why do we place such emphasis on political action when we get so very, very little from it? We need to return to direct action and to challenging the capitalist system.
I noticed the photo of John Yarmuth on your site. John Yarmuth is really a friend of labor. I had the opportunity to video tape John’s constituients thanking him Jan. 27, 2007 for the job he has done, since being elected.
I uploaded the video to youtube and this is the link.
http://www.hillbillyreport.com/blog/2007/01/thank_you_congr.html
Wade,
I understand you frustration about how best to challange the Capitalist System. IMO, we must wage the good fight on all fronts. Through our political action, community action, education, etc.
The Employee Free Choice Act is just another step taken in the evolution of our Democracy toward greater Economic Justice for all.