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A Renewed Covenant with America: The Employee Free Choice Act |
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Steve Smith, director of communications at the California Labor Federation, describes one of many recent actions in California and around the country in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.
A broad coalition of California interfaith leaders gathered at a West Los Angeles Wal-Mart this week to demand an end to the Wal-Martization of America and to support a renewed covenant with America’s workers through passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. Nationwide, dozens of faith groups have joined with environmental, community and academic organizations in support of the legislation, which would level the playing field for workers seeking to form unions.
Speakers, including renowned labor historian Nelson Lichtenstein, discussed the fundamental flaws in our corporate-dominated economy epitomized by Wal-Mart, which raked in more than $13 billion in profits last year while refusing to pay many of its own employees a living wage or provide basic necessities like health care. Wal-Mart also is recognized as the most virulently anti-union corporation in the nation and is spending millions of dollars to try and defeat the Employee Free Choice Act.
Bishop Mary Anne Swenson of the United Methodist Church, speaking to dozens of activists, set the tone:
For too long, corporations like Wal-Mart have flourished while their workers have languished in poverty without a voice in the workplace. Together we can change that. We can restore the voice and the rights of workers and move them to a shared prosperity. We must urge our elected officials to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.
Lichtenstein, author of the new book, Wal-Mart: The Face of Twenty-First-Century Capitalism, shared case studies from his research that show just how far Wal-Mart will go to deny workers from having the freedom to bargain collectively for better wages and benefits. Lichtenstein said the Employee Free Choice Act is a critical reform that would make the system to join a union more fair and democratic.
According to Human Rights Watch, when the U.S. State Department evaluates an election in places like Zimbabwe, Nigeria, or the Ukraine, outside observers look not just at the ballot-box on election day, but on the entire run-up to the vote: If there is an atmosphere of intimidation, a government monopoly on the news, threats of job loss and dislocation, then the U.S. government declares the election a sham at best, a tactic in the continued undemocratic governance of that country. When these same standards are applied to companies like Wal-Mart, it becomes obvious that as currently constituted, our labor laws fail to provide for free and fair election choice by American workers.
The Employee Free Choice Act will be a step in making it possible for workers to decide their right whether to form a union or not without intimidation and without having a company executive threatening to fire, demote or harass them should the vote go against management’s wishes.
The event was the latest in many California grassroots actions in support of the Employee Free Choice Act. Since the bill was introduced in Congress in March, more than 30,000 Californians have sent hand-written letters to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, urging her to support the Employee Free Choice. Next week, activists across the state will hold 24-hour vigils under the theme “Now is the time for Employee Free Choice.”
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If there was ever a time for the Employee Free Choice Act, that time is now. Not only is it nearly impossible to form a union without fear and intimidation by employers, but union-busting has grown into a $4 billion a year business in the U.S. alone. Companies that previously had good relationships with their union employees have been emboldened by weak labor laws. One of those is the McGraw-Hill Companies. Read more at:
http://nabetcwa54.org
Business Week
Biden hopes Specter backs card check compromise
http://efcanow.blogspot.com/
Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday he believes Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter would have “an open mind” on voting for a bill that makes it easier to form unions if a compromise emerges.
Specter’s party switch puts Democrats within reach of a 60-seat majority, which could overcome an expected GOP filibuster of the controversial Employee Free Choice Act.
The Pennsylvania senator disappointed labor leaders last month when he said he would not support the bill — also known as card check — in its current form. But he left the door open to supporting other labor reforms.
Biden told regional reporters in a telephone conference that he had not spoken with Specter about his position on the bill.
“But knowing Arlen, I believe Arlen will probably have an open mind if there’s a compromise offered,” Biden said. “But I don’t know. That’s my 34-year history of dealing with him. He’s an intelligent, open-minded guy and I think he would listen to alternatives.”
Biden said he remains hopeful that Congress will pass the bill, saying the White House is in “constant discussion” about it with labor and business groups.
“We are working very closely with labor, we support card check,” Biden said.
Business groups have spent millions lobbying against the bill, which would take away the right of employers to demand secret ballot elections if workers indicate they want to form a union. Instead, the bill would give employees the right to organize by signing cards. The measure also calls for binding arbitration if management and the union cannot agree on a first contract.
Specter reiterated his opposition to those provisions when he announced his party switch on Tuesday.
“My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats than I have been for the Republicans,” Specter said. “For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change.”
Still, Specter’s comments last month that he would reconsider if changes were made to the bill has union leaders giddy about his party switch. They sense he will be free to soften his stance on the measure as Democrats work out a compromise.
“It’s a huge change for labor and for progressives everywhere,” said AFL-CIO legislative director Bill Samuel. “This provides the room, it provides space for him to continue this discussion and pass a meaningful bill.”
The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is pending legislation in the United States. Its text states that it would “amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an easier system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes.” The latest version was introduced into both chambers of the U.S. Congress on 10 March 2009. - Source: Wikipedia.
Tags: Arlen Specter, Employee Free Choice Act, EFCA, Employee Free Choice, EFCA Compromise, Employee Free Choice Compromise, EFCA alternatives, Joe Biden
We fully support the Employee Free Choice Act. As a matter of fact EFCA is the ONLY hope we have of getting a 1st contract after three long years of getting nowhere in negotiations! We want to get back to the jobs we love, and we want the world to change and EFCA would do just that for our town and towns all acrfoss the U.S. Wal-Mart has to treat employees with respect and dignity and higher wages so people can afford to raise their families. I know it’s a long hard road, but we at AFSCME 3494; Effingham Illinois are standing up for what’s right, what’s good, and what’s fair and even though we have been on a picket line for 23 months, we won’t back down! This is a fight we HAVE to win; GO EFCA!!
Gail Warner
Come on Arlen, be a man, and vote YES for EFCA, it will change our lives, give us our jobs back and make us realize that our three year long struggle was all worth it. We need EFCA, we need you to support it and we need a stronger middle class in AMERICA! GO EFCA!
Gail Warner- AFSCME 3494; Effingham
We want a 1st contractg and we will picket for as long as it takes! 23 months and counting so far!!!!