Thousands of people to call for swift passage of the Employee Free Choice Act

(Washington, DC) Working families across the country are ramping up for the biggest recess week yet, including more than a dozen candlelight vigils, 20 economic community roundtables, phone banking parties and deliveries of personal letters to offices of members of Congress. In total, working families will participate in more than 200 events large and small, write 25,000 handwritten letters, and make 40,000 calls to demand Congress pass the Employee Free Choice Act.

In states like Arkansas and Pennsylvania, the activity is unprecedented for a non-election year. Dozens of events will be held featuring businesses, faith groups, community allies, workers, and unions all coming together to call for labor law reform and an economy that works for all.

“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,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. “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.”

Recess highlights include:

-  A 24 hour vigil in Little Rock, Arkansas at Sen. Lincoln’s office featuring faith and community leaders, with shorter vigils across the state;

-  Alaska union members and military veterans will present signatures to Sen. Murkowski declaring their support for the Employee Free Choice Act, with simultaneous events across the state;

- In Pennsylvania, there will be statewide candlelight vigils and roundtables featuring workers, faith leaders, academics, and political leaders;

-  A roundtable on the economy and the Employee Free Choice Act in New Orleans;

-  A working women’s event with State Assembly Rep. Kristen Dexter in Wisconsin;

-  In Indiana, three candlelight vigils culminating with a vigil in Indianapolis;

-  A rally, a candlelight vigil, and smaller events featuring fired and harassed workers across the ste of Maine

-  Across the country, activity has escalated in recent weeks. Highlights include:

-  Last week in Arkansas, Working America presented Sen. Lincoln with nearly 6,000 personal letters from Arkansas community members:

-  A 200 person rally outside Karl Rove’s speech in Milwaukee;

-  Mother’s Day events in cities across the state of Pennsylvania detailing how the Employee Free Choice Act would impact women and mothers:

-  An event in Maine featuring first responders and the role of unions in responding to health and safety crisis;

-  At Indiana University Northwest, a teach-in led by a professor and workers;

-  Veterans and workers calling for the Employee Free Choice Act in Colorado;

-  Protests of corporate America and support of the Employee Free Choice Act across the state in Florida.

For a full list of events in states, please contact the AFL-CIO Media Outreach Department at  202-637-5018

Contact: Alison Omens/Eddie Vale (202) 637-5018