Organized labor not giving up fight for EFCA

[Kdillard]

http://www.pbcommercial.com/articles/2009/04/25/news/news1.txt


Local union members gathered at the Pine Bluff Labor Temple Thursday to voice their support for the Employee Free Choice Act, and to mobilize a letter-writing and calling campaign in favor of the proposed legislation.


“I feel that every business and employee, if they want to get together and form a union, should have that opportunity to do so,” said John Tate, chief shop steward for Central Moloney Inc. of Pine Bluff and a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1658.

Roughly 20 people were on hand, representing unions including the IBEW Local 1658 and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local Union 966.

If passed, Free Choice would allow workers to form a union once 30 percent signed cards in favor of it. They could then choose to hold a secret ballot election, or the union would be recognized if more than 50 percent showed support by signing cards.

Morris Sanders Jr. is president of AFSCME Local 966 and vice president of the Jefferson County Labor Council. Unions, he said, have been responsible for making many strides for workers, including better health care and other benefits.

“The unions still stand for families,” Sanders said.




We must not give up either keep writing the media defending the EFCA and also plead for them to give this real coverage. Write or contact those who are supporting the bill to thnak them and write those who are waffling.

[Omaha Steve]

1. K&R!

OS

[Kdillard]

2. Thank you.

[underpants]

3. Norm Coleman is doing everything he can to keep one vote away on this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3848533&mesg_id=3848533

[Kdillard]

4. Yep and that is really what all his appeals are about the

Republicans just don't want to give the Dems a stronger majority until they have to by law. Coleman doesn't care about his constituents or about his dignity.

[KansasVoter]

5. I still don't know what is wrong with Secret Ballots. Why are secret ballots an issue???

[quiller4]

6. The right is trying to make that an issue. Under present law

the employer can choose to honor cards and avoid an election. EFCA changes that and gives the choice to the employees where it belongs.

As to the "What is wrong with an election" the issue is the unbalanced campaign that precedes the election. The employer can hold captive audience anti-union meetings to intimidate employees into voting against the union. Employers also frequently play games with the list of employees eligible to vote. An election is easier to manipulate especially with the help of anti-union consultants.