Congress gave love to workers on Valentine’s Day, when the House Education and Labor Committee approved H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act.  Congratulations are in order as workers have now moved one step closer to being able to bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Read the press release from Rep. George Miller, the lead sponsor in the House.

American Rights at Work brought the voices of workers and experts to the Hill to share why the right to organize is essential to preserving and growing America’s middle class.  On Friday, February 9, we hosted a general congressional briefing, "A Solution to the Middle Class Squeeze: The Employee Free Choice Act," to a packed Capitol Hill audience.

The event capped off a full week of events in which American Rights at Work staff, board members, and academics joined workers to participate in press events, hearings and briefings surrounding the introduction of the Employee Free Choice Act. 

At the briefing:

• Our Executive Director Mary Beth Maxwell summarized the obstacles facing workers who try to form a union;

• Author Beth Shulman described the essential role unions play in building the middle class;

• Political scientist Gordon Lafer, Ph.D , author of our report, "Free and Fair? How U.S. Labor Laws Fail U.S. Democratic Election Standards," highlighted why NLRB elections are in no way comparable to political elections.

Sharing their personal experiences were workers from Virginia, North Carolina, and California:

• Teresa Joyce , Cingular Wireless Customer Service Representative, experienced firsthand the difference between an employer that uses the law to intimidate and coerce its employees, and one that voluntarily abides by provisions included in the Employee Free Choice Act.

• Keith Ludlum, reinstated Smithfield Packing Company employee, was illegally fired for trying to form a union. The Operation Desert Storm vet had to wait 12 long years for the NLRB to order Smithfield to reinstate him.

• Ivo Camilo, retired Blue Diamond Growers vend pack operator, was fired when he exercised his right to join a union after 35 years as an exemplary employee.

These heroic workers also delivered powerful testimony on the need for the Employee Free Choice Act before the House Sub-Committee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions on February 8.

Yesterday, the Employee Free Choice Act was debated in the halls of Congress.  The House Education & Labor Committee held a hearing on the legislation, which featured the testimony of workers like Teresa Joyce , a customer service representative for Cingular who knows the difference it makes to have a free and fair chance to form a union.  

Watch the webcast of the hearing (requires Windows Media Player).

Check out a commentary on NPR’s Marketplace from American Rights at Work Board member Beth Shulman, author of “The Betrayal of Work: How Low-Wage Jobs Fail 30 Million Americans.”  Shulman says guaranteeing employees the right to unionize is about more than just workers’ rights.

You can listen to the segment here.

The Employee Free Choice Act was introduced in 110th Congress on Monday night.  Sponsored by Congressman George Miller, the bipartisan bill already has 231 co-sponsors on board!

To find out if your representative is supporting this important legislation, click here for the most up-to-date list of bill sponsors.

Welcome to American Rights at Work’s online portal on the Employee Free Choice Act.  Our site features up-to-the minute resources and alerts designed to provide you with the latest resources to support efforts to advance the Employee Free Choice Act.

Take a tour to access stats, reports , opportunities to take action, familiar and unfamiliar voices all in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.  If you don’t find what you’re looking for, check out our links page or contact us at info at americanrightsatwork dot org.