Employee Free Choice Act Restoring the Freedom to Bargain for a Better Life

Employee Free Choice ActEmployee Free Choice Act

Restoring the Freedom to Bargain

for a Better Life

www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

This is a story about PowerThis is a story about Power

•Union power built the American Middle Class

•Corporate America wants ALL the power

•We are fighting to win back:Good JobsAffordable Health CareA Secure RetirementFreedom to Bargain Collectively


Average Increase in IncomeSource: Economic Policy Institute

116%

38.4%

63.6%

97.1% 98.2% 103%84.8%

2.8%12.9%

23.4%

181%

0%

50%

100%

150%

200%

Poorest20%

Second Poorest

20%

Middle20%

Second Richest

20%

Richest20%

Top 0.1%*

1947-'73 1973-'04

*1979-2001

Top 0.01%*

Off the chart!497%

Workers are Falling Behind


We Make It – They Take It

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

1947

1950

1953

1956

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

Source: Economic Policy Institute

Productivity

Wages

Productivity vs. Wages


0

300%

600%

900%

1200%

1947

1950

1953

1956

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

CEO Compensation

CEO Salary up 700%!Workers Wages

CEO Wages vs. Worker Wages


We Make It – They Take It

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

…and Corporations don’t give much back

% of Tax Revenue from Corporations


Where Does This Leave Workers?

44%

95% 95%107%

140%

Actual FamilyIncome

College Tuition(4yr Public)

HealthInsurancePremiums

Gasoline Natural Gas

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Costs vs. Income % Increases 1995 - 2005


Working people are struggling to make ends meet, and America is in danger of seeing the middle class disappear. An important way for average people to get their fair share is to form a union at their workplace.

What’s the Best Opportunity Working People Have to Get

Ahead?


$833

$642

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

Union Non-union

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2006

Union Workers Make 30% More


Average Weekly Wages

Union Workers Have Better Benefits

Source: U.S. Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2005.


% of Workers With Benefits

60 Million Americans Would Join a Union Now if

They CouldVote For Union RepresentationVote For Union Representation

Among nonunion, non-managerial workers

5%

53%42%

Favor union

Not sure

Oppose union


But Every Day, Corporations Deny Employees the Freedom

to Gain a Better Life

Threatene

dHarasse

dFired


The System for Forming Unions Is Broken

Among private-sector employers whose workers try to form unions:

• 78% force workers to attend one-on-one anti-union meetings with supervisors

• 92% force employees to attend mandatory anti-union meetings

• 25% illegally fire at least one worker for union activity

• 33% never agree to a contract


• Pres. Bush denies the freedom to organize from 45,000 employees at the Dept. of Homeland Security

• NLRB rules that disabled workers can not organize (Brevard Achievement Center vs. TWU Local 525, 2004)

• NLRB rules that newspaper carriers can not organize (St. Joseph’s Press vs. Teamsters, 2005)

• As of 2005, 1 out of 5 workers are expressly forbidden from organizing (AFL-CIO, Voice @ Work)

• NLRB revokes right to organize from graduate employees (Brown Univ. vs. UAW, 2004)



0% to 9%

10% to 20%

21% to 30%

31% +

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

Union Density 1964



0% to 9%

10% to 20%

21% to 30%

31% +


Union Density 1984



0% to 9%

10% to 20%

21% to 30%

31% +


Union Density 2004



There’s a way to fix it: The Employee Free Choice

Act• This legislation strengthens protections for workers' freedom to

choose union representation.

• Results in more workers being able to bargain with their employers for better wages, benefits, and working conditions

• Strengthens penalties for companies that break the law when workers are trying to form unions

• Establishes mediation and binding arbitration when the employer and workers cannot agree on a first contract

• Enables workers to form unions when a majority signs union authorization cards


• The current system is broken, allowing corporations to intimidate workers when they try to form a union. Employees should have the freedom to make their own choice without interference from management.• Today, we have a system where CEOs demand contracts for themselves but fight to keep workers from having a voice on the job. As a result, working people are losing ground-- losing health care coverage, retirement security, and jobs. A union voice can change that.

• If the law is changed to allow workers the freedom to join a union and collectively bargain, more American workers will be able to work together to ensure fair treatment on the job and improve their standard of living

• Supervisors routinely have one-on-one discussions with the employees they supervise to pressure employees to vote no. Pressure from someone who conducts your job evaluations, sets your compensation, and even determines whether you keep your job is coercive.


Employee Free Choice Act: Summary Talking Points

Talking About the Employee Free Choice

Act


What Does Big Business say about the Protections of the Employee Free Choice Act?

Unions are trying to do-away with the sacred ‘secret ballot election’

What Do We Say?An NLRB ‘election’ is not like ANY democratic election

ANYWHERE in our society.

Firing, harassment, intimidation and coercion follow workers into the voting station.

Denying workers the freedom to form a union and bargain collectively prevents employees from improving their standard of living and working conditions.


ActFocus on the Economic Benefit of UnionizingThe legislation is expected to result in

more workers being able to bargain with their employers for better wages,

benefits, and working conditions

The legislation will make it much easier for workers to gain union representation in their workplace

The legislation would make it harder for companies to conduct

campaigns to try to convince workers to vote against the union

The legislation is expected to result in more workers belonging to unions

More than two-thirds of the American public

28%10%

16%

5%

41%

Strongly favor

Not sure

Somewhat favor

Strongly oppose

Somewhat oppose

69%

Who Supports the Employee Free Choice

Act?


The System is Broken - We Can Fix It

WORKER PHOTO/S—MAYBE WORKERS PASSING OUT FLIERS


26%74%

Non-union voters split their vote 49% to 49%

Previous Years

DemocratRepublican

200268%32%

200470%30%

Source: Hart Research 11/2006

Union Members used the Power of their Vote


26%74%

Groups that voted Republican unless they were union members

Allvoters

-9-1

-42-7

-2-2

+79

+39

Unionmembers

+39+53

+15+31

+38+40

+92

+72

White menWhite women

White born-againsWeekly churchgoers

Rural votersMarried women

African American

Hispanic


Union Members used the Power of their

Vote…

House Passes Employee Free Choice Act 241-185

House Passes Minimum Wage 315-116 Senate votes to restore Union rights to

43,000 TSA employees 51-47

…to win victories for Workers


In First 2 Months

1. Stir up and educate the public and union members!

2. Convince, recruit members of Congress to support.

Help Pass the Employee Free Choice

Act


1. Stir up and educate the public and union members

• Form worksite action teams

• Introduce and pass state and local resolutions

• Have members distribute fliers (www.workingfamiliestoolkit.org)

• Use union meetings, newsletter, e-mail, etc.

• Engage allied organizations

• Arrange speakers for local groups


Act



Act2. Convince, recruit members of

Congress to support• Have worker delegations meet with members

of Congress

• Set up meetings with workers trying to form unions

• Hold postcard-writing sessions

• Urge members to call, write and e-mail Congress

• Bring allies into the loop on these initiatives


Majority Sign-Up: Balances power between workers and

management

Minimizes workplace conflict

Avoids coercion and harassment of workers

Eliminates delays

It’s a proven approach

It’s democratic


Act


Employee Free Choice ActEmployee Free Choice Act

Because Every Worker Deserves the Freedom to Bargain for a

Better Life


Documents

Employee Free Choice Act Restoring the Freedom to Bargain for a Better Life