Employee Free Choice Act

Earlier this year, Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) introduced the Employee Free Choice Act, (H.R. 1409 and S. 560 respectively), legislation that will give more workers the power to choose to form a union, and which will help rebuild America's middle class by leveling the playing field for workers trying to form a union in the face of employer opposition.

Now, after seven months of legal fighting, the Minnesota Supreme Court has unanimously declared Al Franken the winner of the 2008 race for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat, and he recently has been sworn in to the U.S. Senate. This means we are one vote closer to passing the Employee Free Choice Act. Tell your senators that it's time to pass this important legislation.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Pass the Employee Free Choice Act!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As one of millions of Americans who enjoy the right to choose a union, I ask that you support working families by voting to pass the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).

More than 42 million workers in the United States say they would join a union if they could. But research shows that in 92 percent of the cases when workers try to form a union in the private sector, they are subjected to anti-union harassment by their employers.

EFCA will level the playing field for workers and employers by restoring workers' rights to choose a union and by imposing real penalties on employers that seek to curtail these rights. By establishing more effective remedies to stop employers from violating employees' rights, EFCA will ensure that when a majority of employees in a workplace decide to form a union, they can do so without fear of harassment or intimidation.

Moreover, the Employee Free Choice Act will help raise the standard of living for low-wage workers by helping to reduce pay inequalities for all workers; it will help strengthen the middle class; and the legislation will lead to better health and safety standards.

Congress must take action to protect the fundamental democratic rights of workers to form and join unions and to have a meaningful voice in the workplace.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 31, 2009


Background Information

The Employee Free Choice Act would replace the current labor law, which is outdated and stacked against workers. It will give more workers the power to choose to form a union, and help rebuild America’s middle class. That’s why it is important for you to contact your senators now.

In 2008, delegates to the AFT convention passed a resolution declaring the union’s strong support for the Employee Free Choice Act. This legislation (EFCA) is supported by a strong bipartisan coalition in Congress. Passage of EFCA in Congress is a priority issue for the Democratic congressional majorities and the AFL-CIO. 

Protecting the right of private sector workers to form a union is important to public sector unions as well. States with low levels of private sector unionization, typically in the South, also limit collective bargaining rights for public employees.

According to independent research, millions of Americans would like to join a union because they want a voice on the job, good health insurance and higher wages. But workers who try to form a union face an unfair uphill struggle; many employers take aggressive steps to intimidate, harass and even fire workers for union-related activity.

The Employee Free Choice Act creates real penalties for employers who violate workers' rights, providing for impartial mediation and arbitration to settle first contract disputes, and granting automatic recognition of the union when a majority of the workers ask for one.