 Free Choice is the most important step in restoring the American Dream, protecting workers’ rights and once again achieving economic security for working families. American workers are shocked by the outrageous bonuses and lavish lifestyles of corporate executives during these tough economic times. CEOs have been giving themselves billions while at the same time driving their companies into the ground and asking for more and more money from hard-working taxpayers. The Employee Free Choice Act, which has majority support in both Congress and the Senate, would restore balance to our economy and ensure shared prosperity by protecting American workers’ rights to form unions. 1199 and SEIU have, together with the AFL-CIO and Change to Win unions, made Employee Free Choice (in conjunction with healthcare for all) our top legislative priority. Employee Free Choice is a vital part of economic recovery.
The only way we can achieve a lasting recovery is by ensuring working families have money in their pockets to pay for housing, goods and services. Union members make an average of $10,000 a year more than non-union workers, are 63% more likely to have employer-provided healthcare and 67% more likely to have a pension. Employers routinely fire and terrorize workers when they try to form unions.
25% of companies illegally fire workers when they try to form unions, and 92% force employees to attend interrogation meetings with their supervisors. Almost 30,000 workers a year face firings, demotions or other discrimination for trying to form unions. The current penalties are so weak that employers can easily get away with violating workers’ rights. Working families have been struggling for years, even during the boom.
Workers’ income was less in 2007 than in 2000, when adjusted for inflation. Working families have unprecedented debt, their retirement savings are decimated, and they are spending more than ever before for healthcare and basic necessities. Meanwhile, CEO pay has skyrocketed to 344 times more than the average worker from 27 times in 1973. The Employee Free Choice Act: - Protects workers from being fired when they try to form unions.
There would be increased penalties on employers when they fire workers and violate their lawful rights. Employers would have to pay triple back pay to illegally fired workers and up to a $20,000 fine per occurrence for repeated violations. - Helps workers improve their jobs and provide for their families.
Because of employer roadblocks, almost half of all workers who form unions never get a first contract that improves their lives. Employee Free Choice would require employers to negotiate a first contract within 90 days or workers can seek an effective legal solution through a neutral third party. - Allows workers to choose how they form their union.
Contrary to misinformation from big business, Employee Free Choice allows workers to decide for themselves if they want to hold a union election or start bargaining with their employer immediately after a majority sign confidential union support cards. Majority sign-up, which has existed for over 70 years, is the speediest and most effective method for workers to achieve a seat at the table. The American Constitution affirms our rights of assembly and association, and joining a union should be no harder than joining a church or political party.
Download talking points Back to top Answers to Questions Does the Free Choice Act eliminate secret ballot elections?
No, it gives workers the choice of either holding a union election or starting negotiations with their employer immediately after a majority sign union support cards. Would businesses be forced to close if more workers form unions?
As we have seen recently, companies go out of business in boom times and in recessions, whether union or non-union. The Free Choice Act simply protects American workers’ rights to form unions and encourages employers to negotiate job improvements. Union workers have more job security because they have a fair disciplinary process and a say in decisions that effect them and their families. More answers to questions Back to top Over a year ago, caregivers at the Warwick Healthcare Campus in upstate New York began to form their union so they could have a voice for better jobs and patient care. A strong majority signed union support cards. When management found out, they hired the high-priced anti-union law firm the Burke Group and bombarded workers with a fear campaign that included pulling workers away from the bedside for mandatory interrogation sessions and distributing blasphemous flyers. Management’s campaign wasted precious resources, put enormous stress on workers and took the focus of care delivery. Despite the ferocious anti-union campaign, Warwick workers won their election, but management lawyers have now tied up the process. Still, workers have vowed to continue to build their unity, expand support in their community and keep management accountable until their voices are heard. Watch a video workers made for the Warwick Healthcare Campus board of directors about how management’s fear campaign hurt patients and working families:
When workers at St. Joseph nursing home in Brockton, Massachusetts wanted to form a union in order to improve resident care and the quality of jobs for their community, St. Joseph management responded with an intense intimidation campaign. Watch St. Joseph employees as they describe the negative impact that management's campaign had on workers and nursing home residents.
Workers at St. Vincent hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts recently experienced an anti-worker campaign when they tried to form a union. Watch a news clip about their situation:
Massachusetts health care worker Anestine Bentick described a similar situation at her former workplace: Back to top
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