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The Fight to Restore Workers' Rights: Workplace Democracy Act Introduced

At a Capitol Hill news conference, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) announced the introduction of the Workplace Democracy Act, to support workers who want a voice in the workplace.

CWA President Chris Shelton says the Workplace Democracy Act is "long overdue." Photo credit: Rick Reinhard.

Senate cosponsors include Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) House cosponsors include Reps. Pocan, Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Wash, DC), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Don Norcross (D-N.J.), Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), and Janice Hahn (D-Calif.)

The legislation represents a leap forward for working people in their fight to have a greater voice in the workplace. CWA President Chris Shelton, speaking at the news conference, cited the actions of employers like Cablevision that use every move they can think of to block workers from having a voice on the job.

"Even where workers endure the months of intimidation, harassment, pressure and firing from their employers – all illegal actions by the way – and vote for a union, nearly every company has a game plan to drag out negotiations so that more than half the time, workers can't get a first contract a full year after their representation election. The Workplace Democracy Act is long overdue," Shelton said.

Also joining the event were workers who have faced retaliation for trying to form a union at work.

This legislation will make it easier for workers to form unions through majority signup. If a majority of eligible workers sign valid authorization cards, the National Labor Relations Board will certify their union. This gives workers the ability and the choice over how to form their union, instead of allowing employers to dictate the process.

The bill also addresses the long delays that some companies use to undermine workers' voices. Employers would be required to begin bargaining within 10 days after the union is certified. If no agreement is reached after 90 days of negotiation, either side can request compulsory mediation. After 30 days of mediation, the remaining issues would be resolved through binding arbitration.

CWA was the leading voice for the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation that would have enabled workers to organize without the fear of intimidation, harassment or firing. The legislation passed the House in 2007 by an overwhelming margin. It had strong majority support in the Senate but couldn't get one minute of debate on the Senate floor because of the Senate's broken rules.