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Union members urge passing of Employee Free Choice Act

By By GARY LIBERATORE

Story Created: May 8, 2009 at 2:04 PM EDT

Story Updated: May 8, 2009 at 4:52 PM EDT

MARCY, N.Y. (WKTV) - Union workers across the state are out on highway overpasses today, calling on Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.

Three members of the Communications Workers of America were doing this very thing today by holding up a sheet size sign saying "Hey Congress: Employee Free Choice Act now."

The employee free choice act is legislation that would make it easier for employees to form, join or assist labor organizations. A version of the bill passed the House in 2007, but it failed in the Senate. The latest version was re-introduced in both the House and the Senate in March.

What it basically does is allow the workers themselves to decide to hold a union vote if they have enough support, rather than making it a decision by the employer to allow one. Union members say this legislation would definitely help fix our economy, by making it less intimidating for workers to unionize, "that's one of the biggest setbacks we have whenever trying to organize anyone. the intimidation factor of the corporations and companies really make them scared for their jobs and with the economy the way it is now, 611,000 jobs lost just came out today. we're not going to fix the middle class, credit card debt with gimmicks, we really need the middle class to step up," says CWA Local 1126 Vice President Jason White.

The Employee Free Choice Act has been re-introduced in both the House in the Senate, but so far now word on how soon it will be voted on.
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