American Workers Urge Feinstein to Support Employee Free Choice Act

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.fogcityjournal.com/wordpress/2009/05/08/american-workers-urge-feinstein-to-support-employee-free-choice-act/


A rally was held Wednesday outside the San Francisco Federal Building
to urge Senator Dianne Feinstein’s support of the Employee Free Choice Act.
Photos by Luke Thomas

By Fanny Dassie

May 8, 2009

Bay Area workers and community members, supported by the California Labor Federation, held a rally Wednesday outside the San Francisco Federal Building in support of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and to urge Senator Dianne Feinstein and Washington DC lawmakers to pass the legislation.

“This is the most important legislation for working men and women of America since the Wagner Act was passed in the 1930s,” said San Francisco Labor Council Executive Director Tim Paulson. “It allows workers to choose whether or not they join the unions and not let the employers run the process.”

If enacted, EFCA would enable working people to bargain for better benefits, wages and working conditions by restoring workers’ freedom to join, or form unions. It would also remove existing obstacles to employees who want collective bargaining, and would require employers to recognize a union as soon as a majority of employees signed cards supporting unionization.

Passed by the House but rejected by Senate in 2007, the bill was reintroduced in March. For the Senate to proceed to a re-vote, at least 60 senators have to agree to invoke cloture, a process that aims at preventing a filibuster.

To reach a filibuster-proof 60 votes in the Senate, the bill would need the support from all 57 Democrats, the two independents - Senators Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman - and at least one other senator.

Paulson said he is confident the House will pass the law and hopes the Senate will do the same. He also explained that under the current system, “One out of four workers who try to join the union in a campaign are fired, and there is absolutely no repercussion whatsoever,” adding that employers use intimidation to discourage worker organizing.

FULL story and more photos at link.