Helping People Bargain for Better Wages

Dear Friend,

I wanted to share with you in my floor statement in support of the Employer Free Choice Act. This important legislation would enable working people to bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions by restoring workers’ freedom to choose for themselves whether to join a union.

Thirteen Republicans joined nearly every House Democrat in voting for the Employer Free Choice Act. The resolution passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 241-185.

Sincerely,

 
Pete Stark

Statement by Congressman Pete Stark
Supporting the Employee Free Choice Act

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act. Passage of this seminal workers’ rights legislation is long overdue.
 
During the past decade, union busting efforts have reached new heights. Greedy corporations hire high-priced lawyers and consultants to thwart organization drives and force existing unions out of the workplace. Employees are chastised, threatened and in the worst cases fired for exercising the freedom to form unions and bargain.
 
Business Week called the recent wave of union busting “one of the most successful anti-union wars ever.” Their statement is borne out by the fact that only 7.9 percent of the private workforce is unionized, the lowest level since the 1920’s.
 
Estimates suggest that 75 percent of all union organizing drives confront hired anti-union consultants. Here’s the guarantee offered on one consultant website:
 

“YOU DON'T WIN, YOU DON'T PAY. Here is bottom-line proof of our confidence in the persuasiveness of the NLRB Election Campaign Program. If your organization purchases an LRI Guaranteed Winner Package and the union becomes certified, Labor Relations Institute will refund the full cost of the package.” 

Why is collective bargaining so important? Wages for union employees are nearly 30 percent higher than for non-union workers. This wage difference often brings employees into the middle class, ending their struggle to stay above the poverty line. This is especially the case in construction and service jobs where employees in unions have 52 percent and 68 percent higher wages than their non-union counterparts. Unionized workers also enjoy better health care, pension and disability benefits.
 
The Employee Free Choice Act will level the playing field for workers who want to organize, but can’t overcome corporate anti-union efforts. This bill provides a majority sign up process to authorize union representation, giving employees the confidence to choose representation without fear of reprisal. The bill also strengthens penalties against employers who engage in union busting activities.
 
While the days of union busting by physical violence may be behind us, the corporate greed that drives union avoidance is clearly alive and well. Our workers deserve better. I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting yes on the Employee Free Choice Act. 

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