A new battle over the right to organize

News Type: Event — Seeded on Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:02 PM EST

Article Source: Socialist Worker

politics, labor, labor-news, employee-free-choice-act

A MAJOR battle is brewing between organized labor and Corporate America over the proposed Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), legislation backed by President-elect Barack Obama that would make it far easier for workers to join unions.

"What you are going to see is a massive fight in this country about the Employee Free Choice Act," said Greg Denier, a spokesperson for the Change to Win (CTW) labor federation.

"That is both literal and symbolic, because the Employee Free Choice Act is a question of power in the workplace and power in the economy. This election was not only about changing the occupant of the White House, but changing the power equation of society."

If EFCA passes, union recognition by employers would be automatic whenever 50 percent plus one of workers in a given workplace sign union cards--which is why the process is often referred to as "card check." EFCA would also penalize employers that refuse to negotiate a first contract with the union or otherwise violate workers' right to organize.

Such legislation could break through the wall of employer intimidation and anti-union labor laws that have reduced union membership to just 12.1 percent of workers, and only 7.5 percent in the private sector.

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greenpagan

You need a renaissance of militant labor in this country otherwise you're no better than pee-ons getting trickled down upon. "O thank you thank you master…!"

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1 vote

#1 - Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:04 PM EST

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GREENPAGAN

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A new battle over the right to organize

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