Do you work for a living?

[Omaha Steve]

You believe everything your boss (BIG business) tells you?

There is a great lie AGAIN being sold to a lethargic US public. BIG business and the Republican Party just can't tell the truth on EFCA. It is hard to understand why so many DU readers won't lift a finger to improve the workplace standards for workers in the USA. The Employee Free Choice Act gives workers a new voice in deciding IF they want a union in their workplace. With EFCA the workers can choose the current method of a quick secret ballot election OR simple card check.

The current method has an election held months later while the business brings in union specialists (busters) to help keep out the union. Mandatory meetings, firing pro union workers, saying we will relocate, etc. Currently the EMPLOYER makes that decision of card check vs election. So if you want to see wages, benefits, working conditions, etc., improved, call your US Senators. We have the votes already in the House.

EFCA has other items in it to help unions bargain a first (fair) contract and more. Please take the time to send an email or call Washington.

Twice in my life I have been fired by an employer for protected by law activity. Twice I was reinstated when when a union took expensive legal action. The first time in 1980 I was trying to organize a union where I worked. The second time was retaliation for filing an ADA charge against my employer.

Send a letter to your lawmakers in support of the Employee Free Choice Act: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/passefca_II

Omaha Steve

http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/efca/

[annabanana]

1. We NEED Unions... and the Unions NEED us!

One of the biggest mistakes of the 60's was to let the coporations and the war mongers hijack the unions in a false fight about what's best for the American People...

[BlooInBloo]

2. I've never understood why so many DUers perpetuate the lie about it either.

[TBF]

3. Edited - sorry - responded in wrong place. n/t

[nichomachus]

8. Because it's become part of the national mythology

The lies about the unions have been repeated so long and so often that people believe it -- kind of like the canard about the McDonalds-hot coffee case. Most people, even on the left, believe the propaganda, rather than the truth.

[BlooInBloo]

10. Heh indeedy. When I read the facts of that case, I was astonished.

[cliffordu]

4. i was raised in the '50's and '60's ...My stepfather raised three kids, bought

a house on UNION wages.


Our educational system was the best this country has ever seen because of the UNION WAGE payroll tax base.

The old man bought a new car with cash every five years.

You know what his job was???

He ran an offset press in the paper mill used as a set in 'An Officer and a gentleman'

The UNIONS created the middle class, not the largesse of the fucking corporations.

[noiretextatique]

12. damn straight

my parents were able to raise five kids and send three of us to college because they has union jobs.

[TBF]

5. K&R n/t

[tritsofme]

6. The common response to criticism of card check

seems to be that the union can choose to have an election.

Why would it ever be in the interest of the union to support a secret ballot election?

If they can find a way to get a majority of workers to sign a card, it would simply be illogical for them to support an election.

That is not to say the current system is not flawed.

But now that card check still seems dead even with Specter's defection, we should look at strong compromises that retain most of the important new regulations of EFCA, but perhaps mandates a secret ballot election within a short time period, and better regulation of employer intimidation during the run up to that election.

With card check off the table, the Republicans favorite boogeyman is gone, and they will find very little success in demonizing the rest of the bill.

[Omaha Steve]

16. Yes and no

The criticism of card check is based on a right wing conservative lie. The pro EFCA group points out the lie of no option for a private ballot election. That is why it keeps coming up. There are many regulars on the DU that won't support EFCA without the option for a private ballot election.

IF people would rather ballot than card check, I'm ok with it. The important thing is it becomes the workers choice, not the company's. The card check isn't dead yet. IF it isn't passed by next year, then I'd take a compromise.

Look at the few responses to click ratio on this post. I guess many people just don't card about this part of the Democratic Party & Labor. But then there are many union members that vote R.

[anigbrowl]

19. Of course it's not in the union's interest to support a secret ballot...

but it's the unoin on one side and the shareholders/management on another. The question is, is it in the worker's interest to have a secret ballot? I say yes, it is. I may or may not like a given union or its proposals for changing the workplace, based on past experience. If I don't, I don't appreciate being patronized, guilt-tripped or called a scab if I decline to participate - any more than I will tolerate such treatment from the people I work for.

Sorry, I like secret ballots and I've yet to see any convincing arguments about why I shouldn't have the opportunity to make the decision in private. Sure, companies bring in people to argue against the union. If the union has the right to organize and recruit - which it absolutely should - then so should the management of the company have the right to present their alternative point of view.

I would totally support EFCA with the card check provision removed.

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. K&R

[Graybeard]

9. I worked 40-plus years in a secure union job.

I always made a decent wage with benefits. I am now comfortably retired on Social Security and my union pension. This should be the case with every worker in this country but unfortunately it is not. My Senators both support EFCA but I will contact other lawmakers.

[pleah]

11. K&R

[paulsby]

13. i'm a proud union member

been one most of my life.

i think unions are a necessary counter to management. i believe they are advocates for a side, in other words either side can be wrong on frequent occasions, but by zealously advocating for their side, they help the process of fairness.

[Overseas]

14. K&R with strong support for EFCA !! //nt

[me b zola]

15. E mail sent

:kick:

[CrispyQ]

17. I put myself through college with a good paying union job.

When I'd go home for breaks my mother would diss the unions. I reminded her the reason I didn't need help with my tuition & living expesnes was because of my good paying union job. I didn't really appreciate all the benefits I had at that time. I do now.

[drmeow]

18. I can send as many letters as I want

They ain't gonna change my f**ktard senators - McCain and Kyl!

[druidity33]

20. got laid off last week...

so no, not anymore. I would love a Union job. I'm looking. Instead however, i think i'll be starting a worker owned collective. Though i'll pressure my MA Senators to support EFCA. Kerry and Kennedy are pretty solid though, shouldn't be an issue.

Cheers.