Research indicates more than 60 million workers in this country would form a union if they had the chance. However, current laws do not adequately protect them. A worker in an organizing campaign has a one-in-five chance of being fired for union activity.
The introduction of the Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 (HR1409/S560) in both houses of Congress offers real hope for changing that.
The legislation would strengthen protections and allow workers to decide whether they want to form their union through a majority sign up or a secret-ballot election.
“It is common sense legislation that makes good on a simple promise: If a majority of employees in a workplace want a union, they should be able to have a union and bargain for a better life,” said John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO.
Independent polling shows 73 percent of the public supports it – and that support comes from every region, every demographic group and every political party.
To support this legislation go online to www.pef.org and select the link for AFT, for SEIU or for the AFL-CIO. They all display this issue prominently on their home pages.
– Sherry Halbrook.
