House Passes Bill That Helps Unions Organize

[Breeze54]

House Passes Bill That Helps Unions Organize

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/02/washington/02union.html?hp

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE
Published: March 2, 2007

Defying a veto threat from the White House, the House of Representatives yesterday approved
legislation that would make it far easier for unions to organize workers.

The bill, whose prospects for enactment are troubled at best, would enable employees at a
given workplace to unionize as soon as a majority signed cards saying they favored a union.
Under current law, companies have a right to insist on a secret-ballot election determining
their workers’ choice. Labor leaders and many Democrats say such elections are often poisoned
by employer coercion and intimidation.

Yesterday’s vote, which followed a fierce debate, was 241 to 185, largely along party lines.
Thirteen Republicans voted for the bill, and two Democrats against.

The measure is organized labor’s No. 1 legislative priority, and Democrats call it vital
to rebuilding unions and bolstering the nation’s middle class.

Snip-->

The Democrats argue that secret-ballot elections are often unfair, with companies frequently
firing, intimidating and spying on pro-union workers. Several Democrats noted yesterday that
current law allowed employers to conduct antiunion campaigns throughout the workday, both with
large meetings and with one-on-one sessions between workers and supervisors, while barring
union organizers from company property.

Representative Betty Sutton, an Ohio Democrat and former union lawyer, was among those arguing
that employer coercion had skewed the election system.

“In this country,” Ms. Sutton said, “an employee who actively promotes union organizing has
a one-in-five chance of getting fired for their activity.”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the bill “the most important labor law reform legislation
of this generation,” adding: “But this legislation is about more than labor law.
It’s about basic workers’ rights. It’s about majority rule.” <--Snip

More at link....

:toast:

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. I'll drink to that!

Union, yes.

[Breeze54]

2. It's still going to be

a battle in the Senate though.

But today, we celebrate a small victory! ;)

[DebJ]

3. Thanks. I needed some GOOD news today.

[Breeze54]

4. Me too!

Makes me happy to see Dems and Repubs voting to help the
American workers instead of the usual crap from the last six years!

Cheers!!

[demosincebirth]

5. Its important, very important

The senate should pass it...hoping all dems will vote for it. No way in hell that bush will sign it, though.

At least its a message to all workers that the dems are friends of the workingman.