Political
|
Giving working people the freedom to form unions and
bargain collectively is key to turning around the economy and
rebuilding America's middle class. Union members
are 52 percent more likely to have job-provided health care,
nearly three times more likely to have guaranteed pensions and
earn 28 percent more than nonunion workers. No matter what else
we do to turn around America's economy and rebuild the middle
class, we will not have broadly shared prosperity until we
restore workers' free choice to bargain with their companies for a better
life - without corporate intimidation. The Employee Free Choice Act will do
that
America's workers want to form unions. Research shows
nearly 60 million would form a union tomorrow if given the chance.
Too few workers are able to form unions and bargain because
companies routinely block their efforts - and our current legal system is too
broken and dominated by corporations to help them. A worker in an
organizing campaign has a one in five chance of being fired for union
activity. CEOs would not work a day without contracts to protect their
outrageous pay and perks. But they routinely deny workers the same
opportunity. Although U.S. and international laws are supposed to protect
workers' freedom to
belong to unions and bargain, employees are on an uneven playing field from
the first moment they begin exploring whether they want to form a union, and
the will of the majority often is crushed by brutal management tactics.
The Employee Free Choice Act would allow workers, not
corporations, to choose whether and how they want to form a union. It would
give workers a fair chance to form unions to improve their lives by:
|
|
- Guaranteeing that if a majority of workers wants a union, they can
have one, allowing them to form unions by signing cards authorizing
union representation;
- Providing mediation and arbitration for first contract disputes; and
- Establishing stronger penalties for violation of employee rights
when workers seek to form a union and during first contract
negotiations.
The Employee Free Choice Act has widespread support, including
bipartisan backing in Congress and President Obama's pledge to sign it into
law. Nearly three-quarters of the public - 73 percent - support the
Employee Free Choice Act. Hundreds of respected religious, academic and
business people and organizations have signed on in support.
Corporate front groups have mounted a massive campaign to block the
Employee Free Choice Act. As former Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott has
said, "We like driving the car and we're not going to give the steering
wheel to anybody but us." The core of their campaign is lies and distortions
about the Employee Free Choice Act - especially the lie that it takes away
"secret ballot" elections. In fact, the act would let workers choose whether
to decide on a union through majority sign-up or an election.
Majority sign-up is a long-established way to form a union, dating
back to the passage of the National Labor Relations Act. It is used
today by major employers, such as AT&T and Harley-Davidson, as an important
part of their successful high-road business plans.
If you would like more information on the Employee Free Choice Act please
Click Here!