Brothers and Sisters,

Click Here for more photos and video  Small Business Owners in Boonville Gathered in Support of the Employee Free Choice Act

 This week our opponents suffered another blow to a key argument in their campaign against worker's rights.  A study from Professor Robert Bruno of the University of Illinois found that in Illinois, a state with conditions similar to those that would be established nationally by the Employee Free Choice Act, over the last six years 20,000 public sector workers organized and not a single claim against the union for intimidation was filed.  This study shows there is no reason to believe that union officials will 'intimidate' workers into joining unions.
See the entire report here.

With that, we must keep the pressure on and this Saturday in Indianapolis the Central Indiana CLC and the Indiana AFL-CIO will be hosting a block walk and phone bank for the Employee Free Choice Act out of the UAW Local 98 Hall. A special guest will be visiting Indiana and will kick off the walk at 1:00pm and food will be served after everyone returns.  Details are listed in the 'Upcoming Events' section, I hope to see you there.  Now is the time for us to share our message and take advantage of the opposition's weak arguments.

I must say, Indiana has been doing a fantastic job of submitting letters to the editor and we need to continue to keep this pressure on throughout the state.  Check out all the newly published letters below listed under 'In the News,' and then visit the 'Take Action' section for directions on how to submit your own letter to the editor.  The more we educate the public about this bill, the more support we garner!

I also want to take this opportunity to ask everyone to call 1-866-207-2060 TODAY and ask for Senator Evan Bayh's office.  Please leave a message of support for the Employee Free Choice Act and be sure to thank Senator Bayh for his past support of working families in Indiana.  Continue sending in your letters, emails, and faxes too; now is the time for us to bring this campaign home and pass the Employee Free Choice Act!   

Finally, I want to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all working Mothers in Indiana.  I think everyone can agree, all mothers are working mothers after all!

In Solidarity,
Ken Zeller, Indiana AFL-CIO President

P.S. Don't forget to check the Indiana Employee Free Choice Act blog for more pictures, videos, and interviews from events in Indiana.

www.employeefreechoice.typepad.com/in/

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) Spotlight: IAM Local Lodge 1227
2) Ally of the Week: Reverend Kim Bobo and Interfaith Worker Justice
3) Upcoming Events
4) In the News
5) Take Action!

1) Spotlight: IAM Local Lodge 1227

President Don Steinke welcomes members Click Here to see more photos Writing Letters to Senator Bayh

 This week IAM Local Lodge 1227 hosted a 'Working Lunch' in Valparaiso, IN, with current members, retirees, and union veterans turning out to write letters, make phone calls, and draft letters to the editor.  President Don Steinke planned the event and said, "I strongly support this bill because there are too many Americans out there who want to try and form a union but they're scared they'll lose their job.  The members of Local Lodge 1227 and myself already have our union, but we're taking a stand for those who don't." 

See video of President Steinke here.

Bill Parlin is a Financial Officer for Local Lodge 1227 and also a Vietnam veteran.  Brother Parlin had to go in for another midnight shift Wednesday night after the Working Lunch but he still made it out to write a letter and make a phone call.  "I'm tired but this campaign and events like this are too important to miss.  I want to make sure that when veterans like me come home they have good paying jobs and benefits available to them like I did thanks to my union," said Parlin.

Local Lodge 1227 is comprised of about 300 members that work at Union Electric Steel and Emerson Power Train, formerly McGill's Manufacturing. 

Great work IAM Local Lodge 1227!

Reverend Kim Bobo founded Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) in 1996 and has worked to build a bridge between the labor and faith communities ever since.  Interfaith Worker Justice is 'a network of people of faith that call upon their religious values in order to educate, organize, and mobilize the religious community in the United States on issues and campaigns that will improve wages, benefits, and conditions for workers, and give voice to workers, especially those in low-wage jobs.'

Reverend Bobo visited Indianapolis for a Faith Empowerment Breakfast last month where she reiterated her support and dedication to the Employee Free Choice Act.  "There are several opportunities on the horizon for us to rebuild the partnerships that flourished in the past between labor and people of faith.  The Employee Free Choice Act is the first opportunity," said Reverend Bobo.

See video of Reverend Bobo from the Faith Empowerment Breakfast in Indianapolis here.

Renaye Manley, Organizing Director for Interfaith Worker Justice

"Scores of faith leaders across Indiana have signed on in support of the Employee Free Choice Act," said Renaye Manley, the Organizing Director with Interfaith Worker Justice.  "The voices of faith communities and religious leaders are no longer a whisper, together we are telling our elected officials that the Employee Free Choice Act must pass," she added.

Renaye recently attended the Working Lunch at IAM Local Lodge 1227 and video of her appearance is here. 

Reverend Bobo also has a new book out that may be of interest to you entitled, 'Wage Left in America.

3) Upcoming Events

See video of President Ken Zeller on the Employee Free Choice Act HERE

Indy Labor Walks, Phone bank, & Cookout!
May 9 1pm-6pm  
Walk and Phonebank from 1-4 and then enjoy a cookout
Location: UAW Local 98
550 S Audubon Rd
Indianapolis, IN

Stewart Acuff on the Indianapolis Concerned Clergy Town Hall Radio Show
May 13 7pm-8pm  
AM 1310 - Be Sure to Tune In!!!