Martin Luther King died in the midst of supporting workers in a struggle to form a union

[Joesunionreview]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x261923">Video version <-Click to goto thread with historic video

On April 3, 1968, the day before his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King stood in solidarity with the sanitation workers in Memphis, the workers were trying to be recognized collectively as members of AFSCME, the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees.

Dr. Martin Luther King died in the midst of supporting workers in a struggle to form a union.

Link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBDgH435oaU&feature=related">YouTube Video

For more of the history of AFSCME and Dr.Martin Luther King please check out the http://www.afscme.org/about/1029.cfm">AFSCME site

Fighting injustices against workers, my own day of action, spreading info about The Employee Free Choice Act

Not to detract from the memory of Dr.Martin Luther King, I would like to convey a piece of legislation that could greatly affect America's workers.

According to recent studies, there are over 58 million Americans(some polls state 42 million) who desire to be members of a union, many are scared, and rightfully so, openly pro-union workers are routinely fired during a union organizing drive, and even if there is a majority of employees wishing to be in a union, the employer usually calls for a secret-ballot vote, which occurs usually after 1 to 2 month waiting period. In that interim, the employers will do everything possible, regardless of lawfulness, knowing that a legal infraction will eventually get some slap on the wrist type penalty. http://www.workplacefairness.org/sc/unions.php">These misdeeds include:

92% of employers force their workers into anti-union meetings that will get a worker fired or diciplined for leaving
78% will force their employees to be interrogated by supervision who asks whether they support a union and who the pro-union employees are
75% call in the anti-union consulting firms
52% who have undocmented workers will threaten to call ICE if they vote for a union
51% will threaten to close shop and move overseas
25% will fire at least 1 employee for supporting the union even though it is against the law

That is why my day of action has been spreading the word about The Employee Free Choice Act, a piece of legislation that firms such as Wal-Mart, McDonald's and Home Depot are terrified of. It would allow a workplace where 50%+1 workers who sign a card to actually be in a union, with or without an election, or they can petition a secret ballot election if they desire at any point with more than 30% cards signed. This will let the choice to be in a union entirely in the hands of the employees, remember the same employees can petition withing 18 months to decertify the union if they so chose.

Basically the one getting hurt with the Employee Free Choice Act is the union avoidance firms and the anti-union lawyers. The second part of the Employee Free Choice Act that is a huge step forward, is that instead on hand slap penalties to labor infractions, there will be a set fine list. Thirdly and most importantly, when the workers finally decide to be in a union, within 90 days there will be a first contract, unlike the Goya foods workers who took 11 years to get their first contract.

There are many corporate groups aligned against this bill that use a variety of tactics to brainwash the masses, these include, The US Chamber Of Commerce, The Associated Building Contractors, The Heritage Foundation, the Consumer Electronics Association, among many others. Some have retained the services of http://www.bermanexposed.org/">Rick Berman, a corporate lobbyist and spin doctor, and some have retained the talents of a political ballot initiative firm, who is stating that the Employee Free Choice Act is against the Constitution, they are getting signatures in AZ and NV as we speak. Their motto is "we've helped corporations and associations defend their economic interests in political and regulatory battles."

So there's my deed of the day, spreading the word of how tied to the labor movement Dr.Martin Luther King was, and spreading information about The Employee Free Choice Act. If you would like to get involved in the legislation here is a link to the http://www.freechoiceact.org/page/s/araw">petition

More info on The Employee Free Choice Act:

http://anti-union.blogspot.com/2008/08/massive-corporations-against-employee.html
http://anti-union.blogspot.com/2008/10/downloadable-and-printable-employee.html
http://anti-union.blogspot.com/2008/09/heres-great-article-i-read-at-campaign.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/18/1946/94116/54/685406
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/14/12532/3618/509/683950
http://cwa.bluestatedigital.com/page/invite/WeDontAsk?source=email&subsource=wedontask
http://www.midatlanticlabor.com/appiesnet/wordpress/?p=730
http://www.alternet.org/workplace/119885/can_labor_revive_the_american_dream/

In peace and solidarity,
Joe, from http://www.anti-union.blogspot.com/">Joe's Union Review


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x261923">Video version <-Click to goto thread with historic video

[Libertyfirst]

1. Your post is an appropriate memorial to Dr. King. I think he would

appreciate the work of those who carry on his labors far more than the marble monument they are going to build in D.C. Although he deserves that also.

[Joesunionreview]

2. Thank you Libertyfirst n/t