"As of about half an hour ago, I became the co-sponsor of my first piece of legislation in the Senate. And it's something called the Employee Free Choice Act."
That's what Al Franken said just hours after being sworn in as a U.S. Senator from Minnesota!
To thank him for his support, we're putting together a huge welcome card.
Senator Franken has already taken a strong stand for workers. But he's up against some serious opposition, so he needs
our support and encouragement. As our economy continues to slide, an
army of Big Business lobbyists continues to fight relentlessly against
workers having a fair shake. Take a moment to welcome Senator Franken —
thank him for being a leader on this issue and remind him how important
it is that he keep fighting.
"Food with integrity." That's what Chipotle – America's fastest-growing fast-food restaurant – vows to serve in its restaurants. Tell that to the Florida farmworkers who pick many of Chipotle's
tomatoes. They have one of the worst jobs in America, with sub-poverty
wages, back-breaking labor, and unimaginable exploitation.
In spite of its "food with integrity" pledge condemning the
"exploitation of animals, farmers, or the environment," Chipotle
refuses to partner with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which
represents farmworkers, to help improve their working conditions. In the past, American Rights at Work activists like you helped put
pressure on big companies, convincing them to commit to
a raise for Florida farmworkers: an extra penny per pound of picked
tomatoes. Chipotle has also agreed to pay an extra penny per pound.
Now, with
your help, we can achieve an even greater victory: a huge chain pushing
for real justice for these workers. As major buyers, companies like Chipotle have a responsibility to exert their influence and give a fair deal to the workers who help boost their bottom lines.
47 artists.
Actors, musicians, comedians.
Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award winners and nominees.
They've all come together in a remarkable video to show their support for the Employee Free Choice Act.
If you've been waiting for one great video to forward to friends and relatives that explains why we need the Employee Free Choice Act, this is it.
The performers in this video are all union members. They know unions are critical to protecting workers' rights to negotiate for fair wages and better benefits. And that the Employee Free Choice Act is critical to ensuring our economy works for everyone.
When Somali pirates attacked an American cargo ship recently, the ship's crew fended them off. How?
It's simple: our country's seamen are unionized. They've received top-quality training. They know how to protect themselves and each other.
Yet every single day, the basic right of workers to join a union is threatened.
See one crewmember explain how union training saved lives – then share this video with Congress.
The Employee Free Choice Act would help more workers in America join unions. And that's not just important for our economy – it's critical to protecting the lives of workers through on-the-job training.
On Capitol Hill, fearless men and women met with members of Congress and the press to passionately defend their right to join a union and bargain for a better life.
Their stories show why the Employee Free Choice Act is so important:
Joe Bordelon, a Louisiana security technician, was tricked into signing a petition against the union in his workplace:
Dan Luevano, an electrician from Colorado, was interrogated, threatened, and eventually fired by his employer when he tried to form a union (after 6 years without a raise).
Asela Espiritu, a nurse from California, shows what things could be like – she was able to gain a voice in the workplace because her company was NOT hostile to unions.
By coming to DC and bravely telling their stories, these workers are making a big impact. Can you help multiply their efforts?
Today, we took an important step towards restoring balance and fairness to our economy – the Employee Free Choice Act was introduced in BOTH the Senate and the House of Representatives.
But with both houses of Congress now considering the bill, there's no time to waste.
Corporate special interests are twisting arms, spending millions on misleading ads, and spreading lies and propaganda to block the bill. We've got to put relentless pressure on Congress before they debate and vote.
Your representative and senators need to hear from you immediately – they're already hearing from corporate lobbyists and CEOs.
On Capitol Hill, fearless men and women met with members of Congress and the press to passionately defend their right to join a union and bargain for a better life.
