Employee Free Choice Act Hits the Senate

The Employee Free Choice Act, S. 1041, the single most important legislation in 70 years to ensure we have the freedom to bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions, was introduced in the U.S. Senate in late March. The bill is similar to the one that was passed overwhelmingly by the U.S. House on March 1.

Already, right-wing front groups are trying to mislead the American public about the legislation with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of television ads. But with your help, the Senate can continue the work the House began.

Tell your senators you support the Employee Free Choice Act.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Please Co-Sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I support passage of the Employee Free Choice in the Senate, and I urge you to co-sponsor the bill.

Working people are struggling to make ends meet these days, and our middle class is disappearing. The best opportunity for working people to get ahead economically is to unite and bargain with our employers for better wages, benefits and working conditions.

But the current system for forming unions and bargaining is broken. Corporations routinely block workers' freedom to decide for themselves whether to form unions and bargain by intimidating, harassing, coercing and even firing workers.

The Employee Free Choice Act would restore workers' freedom to make our own choice about whether to have a union and bargain for a better life--without interference from management. The legislation, which the House has passed, would:

* Strengthen penalties against companies that coerce or intimidate workers;

* Establish mediation and binding arbitration when the employer and workers cannot agree on a first contract; and

* Enable workers to form unions when a majority signs union authorization cards.

Today, CEOs get contracts that protect their pay and benefits--but they fight tooth and nail to keep workers from having the same opportunity. As a result, good jobs are vanishing and health care coverage and retirement security are slipping out of reach. Only 38 percent of the public say their families are getting ahead financially, and less than a quarter think the next generation will be better off.

I urge you to co-sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act to give working families an opportunity for a better life, to level the playing field for workers and employers and to help rebuild America's middle class.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 30, 2007

Background Information

Union members know the best way for working families to get ahead is by bargaining collectively and gaining a union contract. Union members earn better wages, get better benefits and have better working conditions. We also have a real voice on the job, and the strength of millions of brothers and sisters gives us a powerful voice in the community and the nation.

But the system for forming unions and bargaining for a better life is broken. It’s been perverted by employers who use it to intimidate, harass, coerce and even fire workers who just want to work together with their colleagues for a better deal. A fair deal.

The Employee Free Choice Act will restore a level playing field for workers. It will strengthen the penalties against companies that block workers’ freedom to choose for ourselves whether to form unions and bargain. It will bring in mediation and arbitration when employees and employers cannot reach a first contract. And it will allow working people to form unions when a majority signs authorization cards—without the conflict, disruption and intimidation employers routinely inflict on us now.