`Free Choice' Nears House Majority

There is hope for the 57 million American workers who say they would join a union if given the opportunity.   A pair of Republicans became the latest congressional members to announce their support, as bi-partisan momentum continues to build for the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).   With the addition of Reps. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.) there are now 215 co-sponsors, just three shy of an outright majority in the U.S. House. In the Senate, there are currently 42 co-sponsors, nine short of majority.

A survey, conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, says 57 million workers would join a union if given the opportunity. However, employers routinely harass, threaten, intimidate and coerce workers who try to exercise their right to form a union.

The EFCA would help give workers a fighting chance. It would allow the formation of unions by majority “card-check,” which means an employee could pledge his support to a union by simply signing a union authorization card. It is a simple premise that makes sense.

“Our whole society is based on signing up, whether it’s Little League, the Girl Scouts or any other group you want to join,” said Mike Bliss, a USW Organizer. “If you want to participate, you sign up. I think it’s very simple, either you want union representation or you don’t.”

EFCA legislation would require binding arbitration for all first contracts, which would eliminate the fear of a strike, and would also increase penalties for labor law violations, which today are almost non-existent.

“Card check also allows employees to maintain their privacy,” said USW Organizer Frank Hotchkiss. “Workers need to know first and foremost that their privacy is protected. Card check does that.”

The legislation was originally introduced in April 2005 by George Miller (D-Calif.) in the House of Representatives (H.R. 1696) and by Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) in the Senate (S. 842).

Click here to view a summary of the Employee Free Choice Act

For more information, contact the USW at 1-877-511-8792
For an Organizing Contact Request Form, click HERE