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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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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?
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
$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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
Average Weekly Wages
Union Workers Have Better Benefits
Source: U.S. Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2005.
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
% 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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
But Every Day, Corporations Deny Employees the Freedom
to Gain a Better Life
Threatene
dHarasse
dFired
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
• 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)
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
The System for Forming Unions Is Broken
0% to 9%
10% to 20%
21% to 30%
31% +
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
Union Density 1964
The System for Forming Unions Is Broken
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
0% to 9%
10% to 20%
21% to 30%
31% +
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
Union Density 1984
The System for Forming Unions Is Broken
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
0% to 9%
10% to 20%
21% to 30%
31% +
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
Union Density 2004
The System for Forming Unions Is Broken
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
• 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.
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
Employee Free Choice Act: Summary Talking Points
Talking About the Employee Free Choice
Act
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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.
Talking About the Employee Free Choice
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?
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
The System is Broken - We Can Fix It
WORKER PHOTO/S—MAYBE WORKERS PASSING OUT FLIERS
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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
Help Pass the Employee Free Choice
Act
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
Help Pass the Employee Free Choice
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
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
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
Talking About the Employee Free Choice
Act
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org
Employee Free Choice ActEmployee Free Choice Act
Because Every Worker Deserves the Freedom to Bargain for a
Better Life
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org