[Davis Democrats] DNC: In Solidarity--Employee Free Choice Act--Labor Movement

[John Chendo]

------ Forwarded Message
From: "Gov. Howard Dean" <democraticparty at democrats.org>
Reply-To: <dnc-003jf00jyj at mailer.democrats.org>
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:47:30 -0500
To: john chendo <jac07 at dcn.org>
Subject: In Solidarity

  
    
  Dear john, American workers need help - and there's something you can do
about it. Regardless of where you live or what you do, labor unions are our
first line of defense for worker's rights. What do they fight for? Raising
the minimum wage. Improving labor standards. Expanding health care benefits.
Protecting retirement security. And these fights don't only make a
difference in the workplace: They are critical to providing economic
security for families, strengthening our communities and rebuilding
America's middle class. Every day, millions of Americans work hard and play
by the rules but are still struggling to get by. Democrats understand the
important role that labor unions play to fix this crisis. The House of
Representatives is set to debate and pass a bill that will restore American
workers' right to freely choose whether or not to form a union. Join the
Democratic majority in the House and show your support for the Employee Free
Choice Act: http://www.democrats.org/FightForWorkers Research shows union
members earn 30% more than nonunion workers. What's more, union workers are
63% more likely to have employer-provided health insurance, and are four
times more likely to have a guaranteed pension. The benefits of union
membership are clear. That's why nearly half of American workers who are not
currently represented by unions -- 60 million people -- say that they'd join
one if they had the chance. But every year since 1981, union membership has
declined. And a major reason for that fall-off is the many obstacles workers
face when they try to form a union or negotiate a union contract. The
Employee Free Choice Act is a simple, effective solution to restore the
right of workers to form unions and bargain for better wages and benefits
for themselves and their families. It has three key provisions:
* Require employers to recognize a union if a majority of workers sign
authorization cards saying they want union representation.
* Provide mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes.
* Strengthen penalties for companies that illegally intimidate employees to
prevent them from forming a union.
No management coercion, no waiting period, no stacked deck -- just the
freedom for workers to stand up for their rights. Democratic leaders in the
House overwhelmingly support the Employee Free Choice Act. Speaker Nancy
Pelosi has called it a "top priority." House Labor Committee Chairman George
Miller called it "an important step towards strengthening America's middle
class." Now you can join the leadership in calling on Congress to pass this
critical legislation: http://www.democrats.org/FightForWorkers Big business
is scared of the Employee Free Choice Act -- and that's why they're doing
everything in their power to stop it. 75% of companies hire consultants or
union-busters to fight organizing campaigns. And their tactics work: every
23 minutes, a worker is fired or discriminated against for supporting a
union. All in all, over 22,000 workers each year are illegally fired,
demoted, laid off, suspended without pay, or denied work by their employers
as a result of union activity. Why have our leaders in Washington allowed
this to happen? Follow the money trail. The public opposition to the
Employee Free Choice Act is funded in large part by GOP-allied corporate
lobbyists and interest groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the
American Conservative Union, and Americans for Tax Reform. The dozens of
groups that make up the "Coalition for a Democratic Workplace" spend big
bucks each election cycle buying Republicans' votes on bills like this one.
This is nothing new. Big Business always gets what it wants from the
Republicans-- from an energy bill written by Cheney's oil industry pals to a
prescription drug bill full of giveaways to Big Pharma. This time, though,
the Democrats in Congress can stop them. Show the House that you will stand
with America's workers: http://www.democrats.org/FightForWorkers Do you
believe in the right to demand a raise? Health care coverage? A pension? Do
you believe workers should have a voice in their workplaces? The fate of the
Employee Free Choice Act depends on your work. Help score an important
victory for worker's rights and for rebuilding America's middle class. In
Solidarity, Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

 <https://www.democrats.org/page/contribute/EFCAHouse>

    
     
     
  
  
  
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