Majority Of Americans Like Unions And Support Labor Law Reform (Workers Independent News)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/5150

Majority Of Americans Like Unions And Support Labor Law Reform

By Doug Cunningham

The American people support labor unions and if given the chance tomorrow 53 percent of workers would vote to have a union. That’s according to a national opinion poll by Peter D. Hart Research Associates. AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff says with public opinion on labor’s side and the suppression of union organizing by employers rampant it’s time for labor law reform.

: “The time is right for us to escalate this fight and for real action on real labor law reform. There's more understanding than ever that workers need unions in order to improve their lives, more understanding that the economy is not working for workin' people. And the public is staunchly opposed to employer campaigns against workers efforts. And the 2006 elections set the stage for congressional action."

The Employee Free Choice Act would make it easier for workers to join unions, eliminate employer intimidation and put real teeth into punishing employers who violate the rights of U.S. workers to form unions. The Hart Research Associates poll shows that 69 percent of Americans support the labor law reforms the Employee Free Choice Act would make.


AUDIO story here: http://www.laborradio.org/files/lo/winsheadlines.ram

[Deep13]

1. Hey, I'm in the majority AGAIN.

I could get used to this.

[Selatius]

2. Oh God, if only unionization were that easy.

Union smashing has been elevated to a fine art in America.

[kenny blankenship]

3. They just can't join one.

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. Would if I could.

As a state employee I'm not allowed. We have an organization which can hold meetings, but we can't negotiate wages, collective bargain, strike. Kind of like congress passing non-binding resolutions - very little sound and fury and signifying nothing.

[w4rma]

5. Which states disallow unions for their employees? (nt)

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. NC, for one.

We have a state employees association, but it is basically toothless. One reason why state employees and teachers were WAY down on the totem pole, until just a few years ago - we still aren't up to the national average, I don't think, but at least we're no longer in the bottom 10%. Teacher pay has increased dramatically recently - the rest of the state is playing catch-up, because all we can do is lobby the legislature and hope that someone will listen.

[lligrd]

6. That Is A Surprise To Me

I haven't heard anyone say anything good about unions in a long time. Personally, I wouldn't work without one.

[oasis]

7. Union Yes. (eom)

[Acadia Blue]

8. To get our country back we must defeat corporatism.

[donheld]

9. Yes that's the only way n/t

[asteroid2003QQ47]

12. "One big union, one big strike!"

http://www.iww.org/en

"The trade unions foster a state of affairs which allows one set of workers to be pitted against another set of workers in the same industry, thereby helping defeat one another in wage wars. Moreover, the trade unions aid the employing class to mislead the workers into the belief that the working class have interests in common with their employers."

"One big union, one big strike!"

In a corporatist global economy the I.W.W. is the only solution.

[Lugnut]

10. K&R

In support of the Employee Free Choice Act.