White House: Employee Free Choice a Priority

From the AFL-CIO Blog:

In yesterday’s White House press briefing, a reporter raised the question of whether President Barack Obama and the administration continued to support the Employee Free Choice Act.

Here’s what White House press secretary Robert Gibbs had to say:

I think you heard the President talk about his support for it throughout the campaign, and it’s obviously one of many things that we will work on throughout our time here.

I believe it is, again, something the President campaigned on and we’d like to see happen.

This is no surprise—Barack Obama and his administration have reiterated several times over their continued support for Employee Free Choice and the need to restore workers’ freedom to bargain as a critical part of economic recovery.

Despite an ongoing, multimillion-dollar corporate disinformation campaign and the ferocious opposition by the enablers of CEOs in the Senate, the Employee Free Choice Act continues to have the strong support in the White House and in both houses of Congress, and that’s a testament to the determination and grassroots mobilization of millions of union members and a broad coalition of allies who know that it’s what our economy needs.

Activists Take EFCA Fight Home

From AFL-CIO Now Blog:

Members of the U.S. Senate and House are returning home this weekend for the Memorial Day recess, and when they get there, union members and our allies will be ready. Over the coming week, thousands will mobilize to ask their members of Congress to quickly pass the Employee Free Choice Act and make the economy work for everyone again.

More than 200 recess events will take place across the country in key states like Alaska, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Maine, Arkansas and Wisconsin. Union members and a broad coalition of allies will hold a range of events in support of the freedom to form unions and bargain, from 24-hour candlelight vigils to town hall meetings demonstrating the strong grassroots momentum for the Employee Free Choice Act.

Union members and supporters of workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain also will contact senators directly through letters and phone calls. Working families are expected to deliver 40,000 phone calls and 25,000 hand-written letters to their senators asking them to support the Employee Free Choice Act.

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney says the coming week will mark an unprecedented level of activity and enthusiasm:

Working people across the country are mobilizing as never before for the Memorial Day recess because we believe that Congress should and will pass labor law reform this summer. From 24 hour candlelight vigils to visits at district offices, working people are stepping up because it’s time to create an economy that works for everyone.

Podcast #98 – Fight for democracy and reform ramps up

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Political Affairs podcast #98 - Change is coming to America

On this episode, the House of Representatives passed a landmark hate crimes prevention bill this past week, and April 28th was Equal Pay Day. President Obama wants you to join a union, and Vice President Biden comments on the Employee Free Choice Act and universal health care reform.

Joe the plumber admits he doesn't understand the Employee Free Choice Act

Real plumbers are for it. Joe "the plumber" is against the Employee Free Choice Act but doesn't really know why.



From Keystoneprogress.org

Economic Benefits of the Employee Free Choice Act

Podcast #95 - Economic Benefits of the Employee Free Choice Act

On this episode, we feature some discussion of the economic benefits of the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill pending in Congress that would reduce barriers to unionization.

Reid: Vote on card check bill, a labor priority, likely in summer

Las Vegas Sun
By Lisa Mascaro
Tue, Jan 27, 2009

Washington — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the Senate will likely turn its attention this summer to the Employee Free Choice Act — the union organizing bill being watched in Las Vegas and across the nation.

Standing beside fair-pay advocate Lilly Ledbetter late last week after the Senate passed landmark legislation named in her honor, Reid made clear that the wage discrimination bill was not the last on the labor agenda.

The union organizing bill, sometimes called card check, is an “important piece of legislation,” he said. “We’re going to get to that,” Reid said. “We’re hoping to get to it sometime this summer.”

The Senate will be where the action is on the Employee Free Choice Act. The bill passed the House in 2007, but died on a near-party line vote after only one Republican crossed over to support it in the Senate. With an expanded Democratic majority under Reid, it could be closer to passage.

The bill would make it easier for unions to organize and would likely bring union representation to workers at the remaining casinos on the Strip still without it.

The legislation would allow workers interested in forming a union to simply sign a card, returning to a system that had been in place for decades, until business persuaded Congress to require secret-ballot elections.

The secret ballots could still be used, but the new bill would provide the option of organizing with the sign-up cards. Unions say management often drags out the elections, using the time to pressure workers to vote no.

Read the whole story here...

Obama Admin. and the Employee Free Choice Act

From Portfolio.com

With the inauguration of President Barack Obama, you might be forgiven for thinking that the campaign is over. But in Washington, a barrage of political ads still crowd the airwaves. One, sponsored by a conservative outfit named Americans for Job Security, features grainy and menacing footage of leading Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.

See the whole article here

10 Facts about the Employee Free Choice Act

From the AFL-CIO: America’s workers want to form unions. Research shows nearly 60 million would form a union tomorrow if given the chance.

Too few ever get that chance because employers routinely block their efforts to form unions—and our current legal system is too broken to stop them. As many as one-quarter of employers illegally fire workers who try to form unions.

The Employee Free Choice Act would give workers a fair chance to form unions to improve their lives by: Allowing them to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation. Providing mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes (PDF). Establishing stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations.

In the 110th Congress, the Employee Free Choice Act had widespread support.

More than three-quarters of Americans—77 percent—support strong laws that give employees the freedom to make their own choice about whether to have a union in their workplace without interference from management (PDF).

Allowing working people to choose for themselves whether to have a union is the key step toward rebuilding America’s middle class. Union membership brings better wages and benefits and a real voice on the job (PDF). It’s no accident that the 25-year decline in workers’ wages in our country has paralleled a 25-year slide in the size of the America’s unions.

The Employee Free Choice Act would put democracy back into the workplace. Majority sign-up would ensure the decision whether to form a union was made by majority choice, not by the employer unilaterally.

Workers can still vote under the Employee Free Choice Act. At any time, if 30 percent of the workers want an election, they can have one. And once they have a union, workers also vote to elect their union representatives.

The Employee Free Choice Act has the support of hundreds of respected organizations and individuals—major religious denominations, academics and civil and human rights groups and others.

The AFL-CIO union movement is working in many ways to restore good jobs, health care and retirement security—but passing the Employee Free Choice Act is our top priority because we cannot create balance for working people or rebuild the middle class unless workers genuinely have the freedom to form unions for a better life.

Undoing Reagan/Bush/Cheney & Gingrich's 1990s Congress

WE DIDN'T GET SEAN PENN FOR SEC. OF STATE OR JOE STIGLIZ AS CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISOR

BUT, THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE; WE MUST UNDO THE
REAGAN/BUSH/CHeNEY WHITE HOUSE & GINGRICH'S 1990'S CONGRESS; THE 30-YEAR WAR AGAINST THE WORKING CLASS AND OUR COUNTRY

Phil E. Benjamin

Lo and behold, the new Administration did not pick international activist, Sean Penn, to be our next Secretary of State; or any other pro-peace members of Congress. Rep. John Murtha, the first notable member of Congress to demand an end to the Iraq war; as well as, Dennis Kucinich, didn't seem to earn a mention. And, Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz or Dean Baker were not named to head up or even to be part of the new economic team to lead us through the economic abyss. The Secretary of Labor, whoever it is, has not been named to the economic team. That would have made some sense.

Late word: The discomfort of not having any pro-worker, pro-union voice near the White House did reach the Vice President's office. Jared Bernstein, economist for the Economic Policy Institute, was named today by Joe Biden as his top economic advisor. That is good news.

Former US Senator Tom Daschle was named to head up the Health and Human Services Agenda and not a leader of the universal national health care movement touting, for example, HR 676. Again, Dennis Kucinich, a top fighter for universal health care, doesn't seem to warrant any attention. In fact, Daschle seems to be a supporter of the health care market system, albeit, maybe a need for a little regulation of the actors.

The labor movement, used to these kinds of bypasses, will probably be asked for their comments on the next Secretary of Labor, but you can be sure they will not be fully satisfied. They will probably be forced to accept a politician or academic who has a decent labor record for that role. This, after labor serving as the foot soldiers in the key battle ground states. Was John Sweeney, the head of the AFL-CIO, considered for any positions? Remember, in 1981, when Reagan appointed labor leader Ray Donovan, as his labor secretary?

Those expectations were probably not on the front burner of most experienced activists who are used to these pre Election Day promises and post election appointments. But, nonetheless, you can feel a sort of collective resignation and possibly some real cynical and bitter feelings creeping in. Some are offering rationalizations for these appointments. Nothing wrong with that. Past elections are full of these discussions and debates.

The more important question remains: WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

FRANCIS PERKINS AND FDR

As the story goes, not sure if it is true or not, when FDR appointed Francis Perkins, clearly the most left of any presidential appointment to a cabinet post, she asked the president to take action on key working class issues, FDR said something like, "Go out and get a movement to force me to do it."

The president elect said similar things in his formal speeches. He said his election was an opportunity to get things done, not an event, as such, itself.

And, BTW, even if those highly visible pro-peace, pro-economic fairness; and health care equity people were appointed to those lofty cabinet posts, our job would be the exact same.

ECONOMIC STRUGGLES INTENSIFIES

Socio-economic organizations like Jesse Jackson's Operation PUSH, I am sure, are not sitting back and watching these leadership things develop in Chicago and then in D.C. An economic justice program is surely being developed to be placed at the feet of the new Administrations economic team. [RAINBOWPUSH.ORG]

Similarly, the peace and anti-nuclear war groups of organizations, lead by United for Peace and Justice and the World Peace Council, I am sure are developing its programs and action plan. Immediate withdrawal from both Iraq and Afghanistan probably being high top priority; along with the nonproliferation nuclear treaties. [UNITEDFOR PEACE.ORG]

Socio-economic programs, along with key labor union issues are already in high gear.

The Economic Policy Institute, a pro-labor think tank, has been hard at work for months. [EPI.ORG] And, now, one of theirs is Biden's top economic advisor.

Health care activists across the country are sharpening their action programs. Medicare must be de-privatized and improved; Medicaid must be made more accessible at NO costs are in the works. Rolling back Bush's attack on Medicaid, taking place right now is the first step. All of this to prepare the ground for a strong national health program.

University faculty and students are working hard to dump the crushing debt caused by college and university tuition. Tuition debt must be forgiven in return for national service [not military]. And, faculty levels must be preserved and improved to teach students.

Labor and employment based organizations are demanding massive Living Wage public employment programs.

But, most importantly, the labor movement is already planning a massive demonstration in Washington, D.C. to demand economic and social justice for its members and all working class people. This will be coalition event of the year 2009.

In fact, the final months and days of the Bush Administration is seeing executive orders pushing the ideological right wing agenda all the way to January 20th. To be fair, Presidents Carter and Clinton did the same. But, most of their actions were very progressive. And, upon election Reagan and Bush turned practically all of those actions around. The new president will have to do the same starting on January 21st.

Bush, just this week, as stated above, has made it more difficult for Medicaid recipients, the most financially challenged people and families, to pay for medical care under Medicaid. His rightwing, pro-market, and pro-big health business tycoons know no shame.

THE LITMUS TESTS

The litmus test for the New Administration, and lets face it, we all have these; will not be just one issue. The almost 30-year War by the Reagan/Bush/Chaney White House and Gingrich Congress in the 1990s has set our country into a tailspin that must be reversed. The current recession and complete financial collapse can be laid to those ultra-right politicians; and, also to a lack luster, too often compliant Democratic Party.

For labor the issue will be the "Card Check" bill, the Employee Free Choice Act. This is crucial for labors' future; and, therefore, the future of all other litmus tests.

For health activists it will be Medicare and Medicaid improvements; drastically reducing the power of the health insurance and drug lobbies is essential. Saving billions by eliminating the insurance carriers and having the federal government negotiate the price of drugs in the Medicare program is crucial to begin the fill the national treasury with corporate profits. Other cost savings in the health care system, i.e., cutting out the profit-makers, can lead the way to a national health program.

For seniors it will also be to guarantee their regular Social Security check each month.

For economic justice activists it will be the quickness of arriving at and starting a "Living Wage Employment Program." Unemployment rates, for many segments of our country, i.e., African-Americans, Latins, are already double digit. We cannot wait until the national rates reach those levels.

For public education it will be freeing up schools from the backward, anti-working class Bush policies.

And, for young people it will be a tuition forgiveness program that wipes out past debt and awards no tuition with genuine, useful public service, career programs upon graduation.

Are these all achievable with the New Administration? Why Not?

GET ACTIVE NOW

So as we watch the development of the new presidential cabinet and other key advisors, and surely we all do, let's keep our eyes on the prize.

The way it looks, all of these pro-peace, pro-economic justice organizational efforts will be brought to Washington, D.C. under labor's banner, in the late Spring of 2009 to tell Congress and the White House of its expectations.

And, BTW, all of those possible unsuccessful candidates for Administration positions are not going to go away; on the contrary, they will be part of parcel of the broad peoples' movement.

Get ready for a great ride in 2009; and, get active now---your own future and your family's future are at stake.

Why Chambliss Victory Was Both Expected and Doesn't Mean Much

by Norman Markowitz

Senator Saxby Chambliss, a right-wing Republican was re-elected in a runoff election in Georgia against his centrist opponent Jim Martin. The turnout was a little more than two million as against 3.7 million in the general election. Actually, Martin ran well ahead of Obama in the general election, since Obama brought out as I see it both African-American and other progressive voters for him and anti-African-American white voters (some of whom ended up voting for Martin to bring about the runoff) in the first election. With this kind of turnout in a right-wing dominated "right to work" Southern state with all of its historical baggage, this was to be expected.

David Gergen on CNN contended that this was a message to Obama to "govern from the Center rather than the Left" although I don't see how it should be taken in that light, since Obama lost the state the first time by a vote similar to Martin's defeat yesterday. It would make more political sense to say that if Obama pushed the Employee FreeChoice Act and a single payer national health program,(which would be changing the center by moving it to the left) many of those white voters who voted their prejudices today for a Senator who will fight to keep them poor and their employers as rich as possible would change politically.

But what may be more important is the entire media and the Democrats themselves running with the number 60 as a "filibuster proof" majority. This has been pushed hard since the election but, as a U.S. historian (and here I am not speaking as a Marxist historian which I am of course, as such) this has been nothing more than a symbolic issue. Filibusters were important in the 1950s and 1960s when Southern segregationist Democrats filibustered Civil Rights legislation whose strongest supporters were Northern Liberal-Labor Democrats. Lyndon Johnson's ability to get Republican support to break the Southern Segregationist filibuster in the Senate against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a major turning point in modern U.S. political history. But just because there are 59 Democrats and 41 Republicans doesn't mean. that the all of the Republicans would support a filibuster against progressive legislation(and it doesn't mean from the other side that all of the Democrats would oppose such a filibuster). Chambliss arrogantly and foolishly called himself the "41st" Senator, meaning to me that he saw himself as a replacement to Strom Thurmond, who as a segregationist Democrat was the filibuster champion of the Senate until Johnson broke the anti-Civil Rights Act filibuster and Thurmond joined the Republicans in 1964.

Let us say that the Obama administration has the votes to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. Chambliss and the great majority of the Republicans would probably try to filibuster it. Would George Voinovich Republican of of Ohio support such a filibuster. Given the role of labor in his state, I doubt it. Would Arlen Spector of Pennsylvania support such a filibuster? Given the role of labor in his state, I doubt it. Would Olympia Snow and Susan Collins, centrist Republicans from Maine, support such a filibuster? Even Norm Coleman if he ends up winning in Minnesota? I would doubt it. Attempts by the Republican leadership to coerce all Republicans to support such filibusters would further weaken their party.

Also, filibusters can and have been waited out and beaten. Here mass forces really come into play. For example, if the Republicans would launch a filibuster to stop a single payer national health program, this could easily have disastrous consequences for them, since filibusters are usually unpopular with large sections of the electorate, even those who don't necessarily support the legislation that the filibuster is attempting to kill without a vote. Filibusters, we should remember, while they are completely legal and sometimes even merited as an attempt in certain circumstances by a substantial minority to block a majority from enacting destructive legislation, are always seen as a tactic to thwart a majority vote, which is always contradictory in its relationship to representative democratic government.

Rather than encouraging President Elect Obama to retreat to a conservative "center," Chambliss election should encourage him to advance a progressive program, since a progressive program that changes the lives of the people of states like Georgia for the better is the only way to insure the defeat of politicians like Chambliss in the future.

Pro-Employee Free Choice Act Ad

Support the Employee Free Choice Act

From Jobs with Justice:

As this Labor Day approaches, quality employment opportunities and paychecks are shrinking, the cost of fuel and health care continue to skyrocket, and working families are struggling to make ends meet. In these tough times, workers and our communities need fair opportunities to get ahead.

It's no coincidence that as union membership has declined, the gap between rich and poor has widened. Workers in unions earn 28% higher wages, and are 62 percent more likely to have employer-covered health coverage, and they are 386% more likely to have guaranteed pensions. Allowing more workers to freely join unions and bargain with their employers will help rebuild
the middle class by expanding health care, improving retirement security, and raising the standard of living for all working families.

Sign up to support the Employee Free Choice Act: http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/c11zzQE15cHw/

Corporate America Prepares for Battle Against Worker Campaign

Big business has prepared a war chest of at least $150 million to stop progressive economic legislation that would seriously tax the rich, especially the Employee Free Choice Act...

read the whole article here...

[Additional comment by Joel W.]

I think this article is right on about the fear much of big business feels about the potential for a Democratic victory. Think about Wal-Mart's recent actions demanding its employees vote for McCain in this context.

Support the Employee Free Choice Act

From WorkingFamilies.org:

The Employee Free Choice Act would help level the playing field and get our economy back on track. That’s why we’ve launched a huge campaign to get 1 million people to support this bill and tell Congress it’s time for change!

Sign the petition—we’re already at 29,349 signatures! We need you to be one of them.

The Employee Free Choice Act would give more workers the chance to negotiate for better benefits, wages and working conditions by forming unions.

And that will help all of us. There’s strength in numbers, and as we build our collective muscle, we can raise living standards, improve health care and stop corporate America’s race to the bottom.

But some CEOs try to stop unions, preventing their workers from negotiating a contract. In fact, 30 percent of corporations illegally fire pro-union workers during union organizing drives. Of course, no CEO would agree to work without a contract. So why can’t their workers have the same rights?

It’s time to bring back some fairness. That’s why we need 1 million voices supporting the Employee Free Choice Act. But a million people is a LOT of people. We won’t reach our goal without YOUR friends and family.

Do you support this bill? Take one minute to sign our petition. Upload a photo while you’re at it!

Anti-union groups are mounting a campaign to fight this bill. We can’t match our opponents dollar for dollar, but we can prevail if enough people rally to this important cause.