Employee Free Choice Act:
Right now Congress is debating on an action that will affect Unions everywhere. As Union members, we make 28 percent more money than those who are not part of the Union. This can equate to $10,000 per year. Also, 52 percent of members have health insurance provided by their Employer. Only 20 percent of non Union members have defined pension plans, compared to 77 percent of Union members. Unions help bring up the well-being for workers and the Employee Free Choice Act will raise the standard of living for workers even more. However, in a corporate driven world forming a Union and defining contracts are very difficult. MIT found that “44 percent of workers who form a new Union never reach a first contract” This is unbelievable! People want to make the effort and bring their standard of living up but never get the chance. Furthermore, in the documented cases of 2007, 29,559 workers had their rights violated during campaigns to join a union.
With the Employee Free Choice Act there will be three major provisions:
1. Workers will now have the choice of using a majority sign-up when forming Unions.
a. The current secret ballot option will still be available, there will simply be another option when forming Unions. This current secret ballot action enables workers to vote whether or not they want to form a Union. The problem is that Employers are holding captive audience meetings and intimidating workers to not form Unions.
b. The majority sign-up provision says if a majority of members (51%) sign their blue card then they will implement a Union. In other words it will skip a secret ballot. Once a majority of members sign a blue card a vote will not be necessary.
• A secret ballot can still be enacted if workers wish.
c. The majority sign-up has been successful for years with companies like AT&T and Kaiser Permanente.
2. When forming Unions, workers will be guaranteed contracts.
a. If a newly formed Union and an Employer are unable make an agreement on the first contract then either the Employer or the newly formed Union may request Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to oversee the negotiations. After 30 days, if no agreement has been made then the parties will proceed with binding arbitration.
• In other words, a contract will be enacted no matter what
1. Finally penalties against companies will be fortified when laws are broken during organizing campaigns and first contract negotiations.
a. Protection for workers rights are made stronger due to companies firing workers as a scare tactic when forming Unions.
b. There will be a penalty up to $20,000 against companies who are found repeatedly or willfully violating workers rights when forming Unions or first contract negotiations.
c. When a worker is discharged during organizing campaigns or first contract negotiations the company is required to pay three times the back pay.
d. The National Labor Relations Board will be required to request a federal court injunction when there is believed reasonable caused by a company that has “discharged or discriminated against employees, threatened to do so, or engaged in conduct that significantly interferes with employee rights during an organizing campaign or first contract negotiations.”
This is an important act of Congress that could strengthen the world we live in. It allows workers to join unions easier. Please help the move of this bill by going to http://www.freechoiceact.org/petition/ to join the campaign. Sign the petition and help the fortify the United States of America.
For more information go to:
http://www.freechoiceact.org/petition/
http://www.aflcio.org/joinaUnion/voiceatwork/efca/
Sources:
AFL-CIO (2009). Why Does America Need The Employee Free Choice Act. AFL-CIO Employee Free Choice Act. Retrieved from: http://www.aflcio.org/joinaUnion/voiceatwork/efca/whatis.cfm
(2009). The Employee Free Choice Act. EFCA Summary. AFL-CIO Employee Free Choice Act. Retrieved from: http://www.aflcio.org/joinaUnion/voiceatwork/efca/whatis.cfm