Victory!

City of Miami Commission supports Employee Free Choice Act in public forum

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the unions of the South Florida AFL-CIO, last Thursday became the unofficial “Worker's Day” at the City of Miami Commission hearing. 

At the hearing, the Commission heard testimonials from workers who were fired for trying to form a union at their workplace. Over 150 community allies and union members from AFSCME 871, AFSCME 1907, BAC, IATSE 477, IBEW 359, IBT 769, IUOE 487, IUPAT 1175, OPEIU 100, TWU 568, UA 725, UBC and UNITE HERE 355 joined the workers, which included one woman who was fired from a North Miami Beach Wal-Mart because of her support for the union.

In addition to the fired workers, Robert Kuskin of the Association of Carpenter Contractors of Florida spoke passionately at the hearing about why this bill is so important for everyone, even for non-union members.  He pointed out that the Employee Free Choice Act would help rebuild America’s middle class.

George Cerchiai of IATSE 477 was happy that the City of Miami Commission dedicated so much time to such an important issue for Florida’s working families.  “This Commission was one of the first to sign off in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.  And it is because of them that we were able to gain the support of other elected officials,” he said.

In 2007, the Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and the entire Commission passed a resolution supporting the Employee Free Choice Act.  At the hearing this past week, they reaffirmed their commitment by sending a letter to Senator Nelson and the South Florida Congressional members urging them to support the Employee Free Choice Act.

To see pictures from the City of Miami Commission hearing, click here.

Spreading the Word

Leafleting in Panama City and Orlando educates public on the Employee Free Choice Act

On June 11, 2009, workers leafleted the public in downtown Panama City to spread information about the Employee Free Choice Act.  Tom Owen of AFGE helped explain to the public how this bill will help create an economy that works for everyone.  The workers distributed over 700 fliers and answered questions from people about the bill.

Union members in Panama City believe that educating the public on the benefits of unions is particularly important in the fight to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.  Workers in the area are planning on doing more actions to reach out to those outside of the labor community in the near future.

With a similar goal in mind, CWA, UNITE HERE 362 and Central Florida Jobs with Justice leafleted the Orlando Airport last weekend to educate travelers on the bill.  The group passed out over 1,000 flyers and also collected signatures on form letters in support of the bill, which will be sent to Senators from their home states.

Denise Diaz of Central Florida Jobs with Justice said the event was a huge success in not only reaching the general public, but also reaching people all over the country.  “We talked to tons and tons of people,” she said.  “It was a great opportunity for people to sit down, learn about the bill and then to go home and call their senators.”

Diaz also said that the action was a success because it demonstrated the solidarity between unions and like-minded allies.  “It was nice to see two unions working together with us on this issue.”

Both of these actions demonstrate an important component of the campaign to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.  Increasingly, union members are reaching outside of the labor community to inform the public on this legislation.  In light of some of the misconceptions about the bill, many of which can be credited to a multimillion dollar disinformation campaign by corporations, our goal to pass this Act is certainly enhanced by all of these efforts.

Labor Leader of the Week: Fred Frost, President of the South Florida AFL-CIO

Frost heads up major push in South Florida to improve life for working families

You may have seen his name a lot in this newsletter, but that is because Fred Frost, President of the South Florida AFL-CIO, has been providing tireless leadership to make sure that the Employee Free Choice Act is passed in Congress.  This includes not only planning and helping execute events, but also marching alongside worker in the streets and on the job to make sure that our voices are heard on this important piece of legislation.

“This issue—The Employee Free Choice Act—has allowed workers in the area to step up to plate more than any other issue I have seen.  It has served as a sort of litmus test when it comes to our politicians.   Our members have been saying to them:  it is not okay to not support this bill,” he said.

Under Frost’s leadership, and due to the many efforts of the South Florida AFL-CIO Political Director Deborah Dion, the unions of the South Florida AFL-CIO have participated in dozens of activities to support the bill.  This includes worksite visits, an academic roundtable, anti-corporate protests and Congressional issue forums to name a few. 

But Frost attributes the volume of activity in South Florida to the local union members, not himself and Dion.  “It is remarkable what our workers have been fighting so hard for—they’re already organized, but they are still fighting for other workers.”

The South Florida AFL-CIO plans not to let up on these efforts until the Employee Free Choice Act is passed by Congress.  Notably, unions in the area will join community allies and elected officials in a huge protest against Wal-Mart on July 1st. 

Much thanks to Brother Frost, Sister Dion and the unions of the South Florida AFL-CIO for all of their hard work!

To watch video of the ABC protest by Miami unions and Fred Frost talking about the Employee Free Choice Act, click here.

Ally of the Week: Rhett Bullard, Vice Chair of the Florida Democratic Party

Bullard urges Democrats to support the Employee Free Choice Act

Rhett Bullard, Vice Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, is a familiar face around Jacksonville union halls and this time he is lending his voice in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

“This Act is needed because it provides greater protection for workers in the workplace.  In recent years, workers have been squeezed tighter and tighter so employers can reap most of the profits.  It is time to balance the playing field.”

Bullard demonstrated his support by attending the Town Hall Meeting and rally around the Employee Free Choice Act last month.  “Unions have been the backbone of many movements of social change in this country.  My attendance was in honor of all the positive changes that unions have fostered in our country,” he explained. 

Additionally, Bullard urges his fellow Democrats to also support this bill because of the effect that unions have for average working families.  “When unions are in the workplace, it strengthens working families,” he said.

Thanks to Rhett Bullard and the Florida Democratic Party for standing up for working families!

To see video of Rhett Bullard at the Jacksonville rally, click here.

MEDIA ACTION CENTER

Amplifying efforts to have our voices heard!

In exciting news, officers of the Florida AFL-CIO will be touring the state during the next two weeks to talk to reporters about the Employee Free Choice Act and how this bill is going to help turn this country around.  Additionally, we continue to see all of your efforts to spread the word to the media pay off.  This past week, another great letter to the editor by Oliver Winn, Business Agent of UA 295, was published in the Daytona Beach News Journal:

Common sense labor law

For the last 60 years organized labor has been the victim of captive politicians, business leaders and chambers of commerce. When our labor laws were originally passed, they were designed to protect workers from their powerful employers. They did this by encouraging unionization, and punishing employers who interfered with the collective bargaining process.

After World War II the Congress did an about-face and passed the Taft-Hartley Act. This act shifted the focus from protecting workers to protecting big business and owners of companies. This law was an outright deterrent to collective bargaining and was enacted over President Harry Truman's veto.

The kiss of death for unions however was President Ronald Reagan's firing of 11,345 striking air-traffic controllers. This was the rallying cry to employers across the nation, and one they promptly heeded. To this very day employers are still engaging in unfair labor practices when their employees want to be represented by a union. Some of the tactics are firings, one-on-one meetings where the employee is threatened with things such as: we will close the business down, we will cut your wages and benefits, the union is no good, and all they want is your money. The workers are actually interrogated to the point they just give up.

Critics of the Employee Free Choice Act stoke fear that the proposed law would deprive workers of the secret ballot. Not true. The act would not affect the option to hold a secret ballot NLRB election. What it would do is make it the workers' option not the employer.

OLIVER B. WINN, Business Agent
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 295, Daytona Beach

And the ugly (from last week’s Bradenton Herald):

Unions harmful

It is time to make sure Washington rejects the Employee Free Choice Act, which will be tough to do seeing as the unions bribed the new administration with over $200 million. Union membership has taken a nosedive because American corporations treat their workers with respect and in turn the worker strives to make their company the best.

Auto unions are at least 50 percent responsible for the decline of the American car industry. Unions will not even allow management to give higher wages and bonuses to harder working employees as an incentive. In other words, your job is to work at the same pace as the slowest worker or the union will make sure you are punished.

Unions once had a place in America but like Washington, D.C., greed and corruption poisoned every part of them. Ask your representative why he doesn’t have to go by the same rules you and I do, such as health care and pensions.

It is Washington, D.C., and the unions that are destroying the greatest producing country in the world and it’s time to take it back. Businesses know you cannot do that without good people and treat them right.

Tom O’Brien

If you live in Bradenton, please write a letter to the editor TODAY to explain why we need unions and the Employee Free Choice Act!  Send your letter, with your address and contact number, to cwille@bradenton.com.

Keep writing those letters to the editor of other newspapers!!  To find out how to write a letter to the editor of your newspaper, click here.

To contribute to the Media Action Fund, click here.

PRESS CLIPS

6/8/2009- Palm Beach Post, “Labor now management”
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/opinion/epaper/2009/06/08/a8a_moffettcol_0609.html

6/8/2009- Daytona Beach News Journal, “Common sense labor law” 
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/LettersToTheEditor/letLET060809.htm

6/12/2009- Daytona Beach News Journal, “Laws aim to boost unions, end pay divide”
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Business/Headlines/bizBIZ01061209.htm

6/12/2009- Bradenton Herald, “Unions harmful” 
http://www.bradenton.com/letters/story/1504126.html

6/16/2009- Lakeland Ledger, “Secret ballots, unions are essential to preserving democracy” 
http://www.theledger.com/article/20090616/NEWS/906155021/1037/EDIT?Title=Secret-Ballots-Unions-Are-Essential-to-Preserving-Democracy

TOOLS AND RESOURCES

Don’t forget to check out the NEW Florida Employee Free Choice Act Blog!
http://employeefreechoice.typepad.com/FL

Media Action Fund
https://secure.ga6.org/08/turnaroundamericafund?source=field

To write a letter to the editor of your newspaper:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/ltrefca/search-zip?rk=&preview=f

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