SUPPORT THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT

WHEREAS, some 42 million

WHEREAS, when workers try to get a voice on the job by forming a union, employers respond with intimidation, harassment and retaliation; and

WHEREAS, employers often spend millions of dollars to thwart the legal rights of workers to organize a union; and

WHEREAS, employers who flagrantly violate the current federal labor laws that are meant to protect the rights of workers who work to form a union are often never penalized; and

WHEREAS, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), S. 1925 and H.R. 3619, sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) ensures that when a majority of employees in a workplace decide to form a union, they can do so without the debilitating obstacles employers now use to block their workers' free choice; and

WHEREAS, more than 30 senators and 197 House representatives are co-sponsoring the bills, introduced in Congress in November 2003; and

WHEREAS, the Employee Free Choice Act will:

·         Allow employees to freely choose whether to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation;

·         Provide mediation and arbitration for first contract disputes; and

·         Establish stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first contract negotiations:

RESOLVED, that the AFT support the Employee Free Choice Act by:

·         Working with the AFL-CIO to create one comprehensive labor position on the Employee Free Choice Act and using the AFL-CIO's Voice@Work campaign materials;

·         Working with the AFL-CIO and other unions, religious and civil rights groups to build a coalition that will support the rights of workers to form a union;

·         Working cooperatively with our employers when possible to develop labor-management partnerships that will foster the use of card-check recognition;

·         Educating members and the public about the differences between unionized and nonunionized workplaces;

·         Educating members and the public about the struggles of early union members in guaranteeing the rights and benefits that many of our members enjoy and often take for granted today; and

·         Educating members and the public about the tactics many employers will take to remain union free; and

·         Developing a comprehensive lobbying program for staff lobbyists and members to encourage senators and House members to sign on and support the Employee Free Choice Act.