Now IS the time for the Employee Free Choice Act

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.

Comments

[Michael Biskar]

Indianapolis hotel workers are currently engaged in a struggle of historic proportions. The Employee Free Choice Act is not just being fought for in the Senate and House Chambers in Washington, but in the streets of Indy, where huge majorities of hotel workers at the Westin, Hyatt, and Sheraton hotels are demanding that the corporations respect their right to a fair process. The passage of EFCA would give these workers the union. Here is a video about their struggle:

http://gallery.mac.com/lynfilm#100093/RaisingIndianapolis_WEB&bgcolor=black

[studentintraining]

I just want an answer as to why this act gets rid of the secret ballot. Being forced into something is very un-American. When you go in to vote for president or any other public office you get your own booth and are able to make a choice without anyone watching or telling you what to do. In the USA we must ensure that everyone is able to make an informed decision on there own without being peer pressured into it. I laughed at the kindergarten line I don't remember when we talked about unions or sticking together..­. it may have been before learning add 2+2=4 but after nap time.

[LeftRight]

Tell you what. You can challenge about the secret ballot when we can challenge about the lack of a secret ballot to DE-certify a union!!

[studentintraining]

So why not fix that problem with this bill instead of creating a new one?

[studentintraining]

My last post must not have gone through. Anyway, we shouldn't get rid of the secret ballot voting portion of creating a union otherwise people could coerce people into voting when they wouldn't otherwise vote.

[studentintraining]

EFCA is a fraud. The only reason to get rid of the secret ballot is to bully people into joining the union. Why else get rid of it? If a place is going to unionize it can wait for an actual vote not something that can be forced on anyone.

[David Veksler]

Labor unions are just coercive (and often violent) monopolies which use the state to keep unwanted (minority and immigrant) workers from offering competing wages.

[sargon]

Deleting negative comments about unions doesn't help make you anymore right.

http://www.nrtw.org/

[sargon]

Not a Union fan.
- Unions protect piss poor workers while good workers have to suffer their presence on the job site.
- Unions presume to lobby on behalf of its members and recommend who they vote for politically.
- Unions collect union dues and waste the money on ridiculous crap (too include lobbying).
- Unions spend too much time focusing on protecting individual employees when their purpose was to protect employee's against policies as a whole.

This probably isn't true for all unions but its true for the one i deal with and its disgusting. I support right to work laws.

http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm

[LeftRight]

Unions also protect ALL workers from a bad employer
Unions RECOMMEND who their members should vote for, but never do worse than churches!
Unions collect dues, but usually as a small percentage of the worker's wages, and while they may lobby against the worker's best choice, it's likely that they will lobby FOR the workers!

And as for them spending too much time on individuals vice policing the whole employer..­.... Maybe you just don't SEE that!!!!!

[jakep]

Thi is typical of Senators. Get elected by a certain segment of the population, and then give your support to the people that line your pockets. Maybe, we need to not only pass EFCA, but also publicly fund elections. Then the elected would have to actually do what the constituents wanted.

[EFCANOW]

Maybe Now is the TIME we should get rid of Senator Lincoln !

2010 is just around the corner!

For more information on Employer FEAR, Coercion and Intimidation Union Busting Tactics Press Below

http://efcanow.blogspot.com/2009/02/just-say-no-to-employee-free-choice-act.html

[FogBelter]

If not EFCA then maybe it is time for a Consumer/Labor Party ... always prepare to reward an opponent's victory with an even more bitter defeat.

But lets hope reason prevails and EFCA passes.