FIGHTING FOR WORKERS' RIGHTS
State Resolutions Supporting the Employee Free Choice Act
Workers are regularly harassed, threatened, intimidated and even fired when they try to form unions to bargain for a better life. Bargaining through a union for better wages, benefits and working conditions is the best opportunity working people have to get ahead financially today. But the current system for forming unions and bargaining is broken. We need the Employee Free Choice Act, federal legislation to strengthen penalties when employers violate workers’ freedom to choose a union, to provide for mediation and arbitration when the employer won’t bargain a first contract and to enable workers to join a union when the majority signs union authorization cards.
Bills Protecting Worker Freedom
Today, employers can force workers to attend meetings to listen to their personal beliefs on politics, religion and unions—and can fire those who refuse to go. The Worker Freedom Act will give employees the freedom to walk away from these indoctrination meetings—and would bar employers from firing or disciplining workers who choose not to attend or who report unlawful, forced meetings.
- At least 19 state legislatures have introduced or plan to introduce legislation to protect workers’ rights.
- At least 9 states are expected to consider legislation to protect workers’ freedom in 2007.
Bills Giving Majority Sign-Up Rights to Public Employees
This bill would allow public-sector workers to form unions by signing authorization cards or petitions.
- At least 16 state legislatures have introduced or plan to introduce bills giving public employees the right to form unions this way.
- At least eight states are expected to consider bills giving public employees majority sign-up rights in 2007.
For more information, please e-mail stateaction@aflcio.org.
