Employee Free Choice Act Makes Organization the Decision of Workers, Not Companies

Employee Free Choice Act

Evan McLaughlin
Director of Politics and Legislation

During tough economic times, it’s more important than ever for workers to have the freedom to unite for better wages, health care and retirement security.

Workers who belong to unions earn, on average, 30 percent more than nonunion workers. They are 59 percent more likely to have employer-provided health coverage and four times more likely to have pensions. In fact, more than half of U.S. workers—nearly 60 million—say they would join a union right now if they could.

Despite the obvious benefits of joining a union, and the desire of millions of middle-class Americans to organize, the current process for forming a union is placed in the hands of companies rather than the workers themselves. Even when a majority of employees sign up to join a union, it’s still up to the company to decides whether to honor that or force the workers to undergo an election in which management controls the process and often intimidates the voters.

Recent research shows once an organizing drive begins, 91 percent of employees are forced to attend one-on-one meetings with management, 81 percent of companies higher high-priced union-busting attorneys, and one in three employees are fired for supporting the formation of a union.

This is why we need the Employee Free Choice Act.

We want workers to have the ultimate choice in deciding to unionize. If passed by Congress and signed by President Obama, the bill would allow Americans to form a union if a majority of a workplace signs up. It’s that simple.

Additionally, the Employee Free Choice Act strengthens existing labor law by giving the National Labor Relations Board the authority to fine companies who intimidate and coerce their employees. 
Currently, companies who engage in these union-busting tactics face no worse a punishment than posting a letter promising not to break the law again.

Polling shows that 78 percent of Americans favor legislation that like this. Big business has already pledged to spend millions of dollars to defeat the bill, so we need to make sure we do our part in spreading the good word. For instance, we’ve been able to convince many of our friendly elected members of Congress to support the Employee Free Choice Act, but California Sen. Diane Feinstein has yet to announce her support even though she cosponsored a bill just like this a few years ago.

We need everyone’s support. The Labor Council will be out in force in the coming months, advocating for the Employee Free Choice Act at local union meetings, community groups and open houses. As we meet with the community, we want to be able to share stories about some of the organizing challenges, such as facing management’s intimidation and threats, that we face under the current law. So share!

E-mail your stories to efca@unionyes.org.