Why EFCA? Illegal Threats, Firings and More ...
New findings from Dr. Kate Bronfenbrenner provide a comprehensive, independent analysis of employer behavior in union representation elections supervised by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Her research identifies the range and incidence of legal and illegal coercive tactics used by employers NLRB elections and the ineffectiveness of current labor law to protect and enforce workers’ rights during the process.
Dr. Bronfenbrenner’s report also compares employer behavior in this study’s period to previous studies that she and her research teams have conducted over the last 20 years.
By Kate Bronfenbrenner, Ph.D.
American Rights at Work Education Fund and Economic Policy Institute
May 2009
» Full Report (PDF: 33 pages, 366kb)
» Read the related press release
The Employee Free Choice Act Has Been Introduced
Yesterday, the Employee Free Choice Act was introduced in the House and Senate.
Sen. Tom Harkin, one of the leading sponsors of the bill, told the New York Times that enacting the Employee Free Choice Act was crucial to help rebuild the nation’s middle class. He said that under current law, it is far too easy for corporations to block unionization drives.
"If you want to look at who built the middle class in America, it’s unions,” Mr. Harkin said.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post did a decent job of describing what the bill actually does amid all the political rhetoric.
The bill has two main elements. It would give workers the option of forming unions by getting a majority of workers to sign cards to join without having to hold a secret ballot election. (Current law leaves it up to employers to decide whether workers must hold an election or can organize via "card check.") And it mandates that -- if employers and workers cannot reach a contract within 120 days -- a government arbitrator intervene and set terms.
Workers say the first provision is needed because employers now intimidate workers in the run-up to elections, making them something other than a democratic vote, and that the second provision is needed because employers sometimes go years without agreeing to a contract.
While the votes are there for passage, the battle for Employee Free Choice Act is shaping up to be intense, with 60 votes needed in the Senate to end a potential filibuster by opponents. For that reason, there is some speculation that Senators will wait to pass the bill until Al Franken officially joins them as the Senator from Minnesota since every vote will likely be needed.
Already, the debate is getting out of control with opponents claiming the bill's passage would lead to "armegeddon."
The Service Employees International Union, one of the bill's supporters, recently produced this video, poking fun at some of the over the top statements to date.
SEIU also appeared on the national political program Hardball to debate the bill against the Chamber of Commerce. The eight minute debate can be seen here.
Help Rebuild the Middle Class
Facing economic turmoil and 30 years of policies that favor the most wealthy at the expense of the rest of us, Americans are clamoring for change.
Voters are making clear that we want economic policies that will help the average American, health care reform and the chance to raise our incomes once again.
That’s why the Employee Free Choice Act will be an important part of the new movement to rebuild the middle class. The employee free choice act will make it easier for Americans to form unions to improve their jobs and their lives. Take a look at the video below and sign the petition to support the Employee Free Choice Act.
