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Workers
create unions to exercise democracy and power
at the workplace. Unions are an essential
bulwark, preventing businesses from wielding
unlimited power in determining wages, benefits
and working conditions for working men and
women.
Having
a collective voice gives workers protections and opportunities to
have some control of their future. Union representation is a vehicle
to reduce poverty for workers in low-wage
jobs, provide health care and pension benefits
for families, improve health and safety in
the workplace, advocate economic and social
policies that support all workers, and provide
workers a role in workplace decisions.
The
Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) would ensure
that when a majority of employees in a workplace
decide to form a union, they could do so without
the debilitating obstacles employers now use
to block workers’ free choice.
With
a new Congress, there is guarded optimism
that the EFCA may indeed pass.
Worker advocates must
continue to educate, organize,
and mobilize support for the Employee Free Choice
Act. For the sake of democracy and basic
justice, the religious community in particular
and the lay public at large must become champions
of workers’ right to freely organize together for their common
interests.
We
urge you to contact
your legislators and tell
them to become a co-sponsor and to vote for
the Employee Free Choice Act.
Talking
Points for Calling Your U. S. Senator
Download,
sign and submit a "Sign-On" Resolution to show your
support for the Employee Free Choice Act.
Click
here to watch a short Flash
video produced by American Rights at Work,
a research and advocacy group focused on  workplace
rights. The video, released in June 2005,
notes that more than 10,000 workers have
been fired or penalized so far this year
for supporting a union at work. The solution
-- tell Congress to pass the Employee Free
Choice Act.
"Free and Fair? How Labor Law Fails U.S. Democratic Election
Standards," a new report by American Rights at Work, offers a
detailed analysis of how fundamental principles
governing American elections are systematically denied to those seeking
union representation
at work under the current process outlined
in U.S. labor law and administered by the National Labor Relations
Board.
Read the report
summary,
or download the full report.
Resources
Basic
Facts about Workers’ Union Organizing Rights
A 1-page sheet highlighting the basic
facts of the rights of workers.
Employee
Free Choice Act Background
Includes basics of EFCA, including background,
labor history, the process of union organizing,
how the EFCA will help solve the problem, and
statements from many religious traditions affirming
the rights of workers.
EFCA: A Faithful Response to Lift up Workers' Rights
An explanation of workers under attack and how faithful are called to the challenge. Includes an invitation to call or write to your Senators.
EFCA/Workers'
Rights Links
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