I thought I would pass along a story from Reno Hammond, the Business Manager at the Southwest Laborers' District Council about a meeting he and other local union leaders had with Senator Lincoln on the Employee Free Choice Act and a worker who was fired simply for trying to form a union:
Earlier this week I joined several other local union leaders to meet with Senator Lincoln and discuss our support for the Employee Free Choice Act - an important piece of pending legislation to remove the barriers that prevent working people from coming together in union to improve their lives.
Senator Lincoln said she would not support Employee Free Choice, telling us "now is not the time." I suggested that she should tell that to Ryan Lindsey, one of many workers who demonstrated their support for Employee Free Choice outside the Senator's office in Little Rock.
Ryan worked for Asplundh Tree Services for nearly three years, was a working foreman and considered a top-hand as he was qualified to do almost any aspect of the job. Ryan and several of his co-workers tried to come together in a union to bargain for better pay, good benefits, safer working conditions and some basic respect on the job. As a result of their union organizing activities, Asplundh fired Ryan and three other employees.
Asplundh's response to employees trying to form a union was outrageous and illegal, but unfortunately common. Today when workers try to organize, 25% of employers react by firing them, 51% threaten to shut down the workplace and 91% force workers to attend anti-union intimidation meetings.
Charges have been filed against Asplundh for their illegal activity, but as is often the case with such charges, the penalties will likely be too small to deter this type of behavior at Asplundh or other employers.
Ryan's story is a clear example of why the Employee Free Choice Act is needed.
Senator Lincoln said "now is not the time" for Employee Free Choice. I wonder if she could look Ryan in the eye and tell him that. I certainly cannot.
Thanks for the story Reno. Senator Lincoln is wrong on this issue - America's working people need the Employee Free Choice Act and they need it now.