1,500 Rally in Arkansas for Employee Free Choice

Union, religious and community activists rally for Employee Free Choice in Little Rock.

Under a scorching sun, CWAers joined with 1,500 union activists in Arkansas to rally for Employee Free Choice.

The day started early, at Fort Smith, where CWA Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Rechenbach lead faith, civil rights and union activists in an early morning rally.

That group traveled two hours to Little Rock where they met up with union activists and supporters from across the state. Outside Central High School, they remembered the courage of the Little Rock 9 who brought about the school's integration. Then, led by a delegation of ministers, the crowd marched to the state capitol.

CWA Sec.-Treas. Rechenbach at Little Rock rally.

There, union leaders, local elected officials, clergy and others called on Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor to support working families and the Employee Free Choice Act.

Rechenbach condemned the hypocrisy and lies of the multi-million-dollar campaign being waged by the Chamber of Commerce. "It is never enough for some of these greediest in our nation," he said. "They wave the flag and cry crocodile tears over the alleged loss of democratic principles, which of course, is in and of itself an outright lie.  As all of us know, no one's right to a vote is being taken away.  Rather, workers – not their bosses – are being given the option of deciding if they want a vote."

CWA District 6 Vice President Andy Milburn was also on hand, along with members and officers of every Arkansas local.