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Business and Conservatives Desperate to Stop Employee Free Choice Act
Over the weekend, we saw another example of how badly Big Business and its allies in Congress want to stop the Employee Free Choice Act. Today’s Daily Labor Report (subscription required) says Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) railed against the legislation during a speech at the conservative Heritage Foundation. He reportedly said the bill “promises to savagely curtail” workers’ right to a private-ballot election on whether they want union representation.
Hatch urged employer organizations and conservative groups to organize strong opposition to the legislation and to use talk shows, blogs and advertisements to educate the public about its “dangerous” provisions and rebut “fabrications” allegedly made by unions.
The legislation, S. 1041, would rein in the employer harassment, intimidation and stalling that tens of thousands of workers encounter every year when they try to form unions and bargain for a better life. It also would allow workers to decide to join a union by majority sign-up or card-check when an employer agrees to recognize the union if a majority of workers sign union authorization cards.
Business groups and others that oppose the Employee Free Choice Act claim the current National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election system is a good and democratic thing. But by the time employees get to vote, the environment has been so poisoned by employer intimidation and harassment that free and fair choice isn’t an option. (Read why the majority sign-up process is fairer than an NLRB election.)
Just ask Dan Luevano. He and six of his nine co-workers at Ries Electric in Keenesburg, Colo., signed cards saying they wanted to be represented by the Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 68. The owner refused to recognize the union and launched a steady attack against their efforts.
Within days, the company illegally fired Luevano. Although the union filed charges and he won reinstatement to his job, Luevano was shabbily treated by the company and given little work. Meanwhile, the management campaigned against the union, threatened Luevano’s co-workers and held mandatory anti-union meetings. Finally, when the NLRB held an election, the company’s tactics paid off and the workers lost. The vote was a tie, which meant they were denied their union.
Last night, progressives across the country weighed in on the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act and card-check on Nancy Scola’s talk show on MyDD Blog Talk Radio. You can hear the comments and what Scola, who is blogging on MyDD for the AFL-CIO, has to say by clicking here.
The U.S. House passed the Employee Free Choice Act on March 1, through tremendous effort by union members across the country to hold newly elected members of Congress accountable. However, it now faces a much tougher fight in the Senate. With 47 co-sponsors, the bill has a strong base of support—but many more senators need convincing before it will pass.
Take action today to help workers across the country have a better life. Urge your senators to support the Employee Free Choice Act by clicking here. Find out other things you can do to help pass this important legislation here.
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2 Comments
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What happened to the “good old days” when Unions did the leg busting?
As union folks, we need to make very clear that we will make sure any senator that opposed this bill is unemployed. Work needs be done in all 50 state houses as well as congress to keep pressure on our fearless leaders. Business folks are doing exactly that now. Perhaps a boycott of some of their products will keep them busy while we force the issue in the senate.
One might note that Bush will most likely veto such a bill. Odd, no one is claiming that Bush should have a third term unlike Clinton. Odd indeed