Adopt an Overpass' for Employee Free Choice

Spreading the Employee Free Choice message: members of CWA Local 1108 hang their banners in Suffolk County, N.Y.

Congressional action on the Employee Free Choice Act is heating up, so now's the time to turn up the heat on our actions. CWA locals have been leading the labor movement in getting out the word on Employee Free Choice.

When members of Congress go back home for the Memorial Day recess, we want them to see how determined we are to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. During this recess, CWA is encouraging locals to "adopt an overpass" and hold a banner in support of Employee Free Choice.

Banners will be displayed at the CWA Convention/Legislative-Political Conference in June, so plan your action now.

District 1 and District 13 are out in front so far, but more locals have plans in the works. District 1 has supplied some very helpful advice for creating and getting attention for the banners.

1. Find a good location. The best overpasses have:

• Long, Straight run-up – this gives drivers on the highway plenty of time to read the banner and see you.
• Small, Straight Fence (or No Fence) – Sometimes overpasses have a curved-in fence.  If that's the best you have, you could put the banner on the inside of the fence – as long as it's securely attached (even with a strong gust of wind).  Keep hold of it at all times.
• Sidewalk – if there is no sidewalk, there is often a shoulder or a pull-over lane.
• Lots of cars and trucks passing underneath them – the more people see the banners, the better.

2. Paint a big, easy-to-read banner, or two.

• Use a big white sheet.
• Use paint for the letters, not marker.
• Make the lettering really thick and easy to read.
• Use a pencil to draw the letters before painting the banner.
• If it's a windy area, think about where you might want to cut wind-holes so that it's easier to hold against the fence on the overpass.
• Don't misspell anything.
• Don't leave the banner behind.

3. Get two or three people to hold the banner. Keep people holding the banner at all times.

4.Get someone to take pictures of the banner – ideally, hi-resolution digital photos.

5. Have someone available to talk to police and media, if needed. 

6. And the Most Important Rule: don't drop the banner and don't leave it behind.

For questions and more information, email news@cwa-union.org.