Companies Applauded for Supporting the Employee Free Choice Act

WASHINGTON, DC—Companies across the nation are weathering our economic storm by working closer and harder than ever with their strongest asset – their employees. In observance of Labor Day, the American Rights at Work Education Fund publicizes successful union and management partnerships in its fifth annual Labor Day List: Partnerships that Work. Unique to this year’s report are employers who support the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation that protects workers and enables long-term growth for American businesses.

The companies in the report were selected for their commitment to providing sustainable wages and family-friendly benefits, respecting workers’ decisions to form unions, and speaking out on the need for others to follow suit.

“This year’s Labor Day List employers clearly show that productive labor relations benefit workers, their families, and the company’s bottom line,” says Kimberly Freeman, Acting Executive Director of the American Rights at Work Education Fund. She adds, “Without a doubt, economic success does not have to come at the expense of workers’ rights. That’s why we chose to showcase companies that have demonstrated their unyielding support for the Employee Free Choice Act, which is fundamental to rebuilding our economy and empowering workers to achieve the American Dream.”

While many U.S. companies instinctively put the squeeze on employees as a first response to below standard financial forecasts, one of this year’s honorees, American Income Life Insurance Company , is growing in this economy due to the strong collaboration with its staff. The business model for the Waco, TX based employer of over 3,000 union staff nationwide increases both productivity and profits while furthering the company’s mission of protecting working families with supplemental life insurance.

The longstanding relationship that the family and minority-owned Raymond’s Painting and Decorating, Inc., has with its workers’ union has resulted in a highly-skilled staff capable of meeting project needs for some of Denver’s most notable landmarks. Other business owners featured in the Labor Day List are self-made entrepreneurs who want their workers to share in their company’s success. Print & Copy Center’s commitment to the well-being of its employees is unparalleled, and its owner has spoken numerous times on the need for meaningful labor law reform to ensure all workers have decent opportunities and their rights protected. The Pittsburgh area full-service printer believes it has remained competitive and successful in part due to the incredible training unions provide.

Other employers profiled include Ivory Leathers, Inc. (West Fargo, ND), Morton Williams Supermarkets (New York, NY), McGuire Scenic (Indianapolis, IN), West Sheet Metal Company (Sterling, VA), and Wisconsin Vision, Inc. (New Berlin, WI).

These employers represent a growing community of responsible businesses that play by the rules, and want policies that encourage others to do so as well, so they’re not competing on an unlevel field. According to Freeman, “Measures like the Employee Free Choice Act will give more workers a choice to join unions, giving them the financial means to support the small businesses that help drive the engine of our economy.”

The 2009 Labor Day List: Partnerships that Work is a project of the American Rights at Work Education Fund’s Socially Responsible Business Program. For a complete copy of the report, visit www.americanrightsatwork.org. For interview requests, please contact Josh Goldstein at 202-822-2127 ext. 118, 954-254-4900 (cell), or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it