CWA: Employee Free Choice is Critical to Rebuilding the Middle Class

Contact: Candice Johnson, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168 and cjohnson@cwa-union.org

Following is a statement by President Larry Cohen, Communications Workers of America, on the introduction of the Employee Free Choice Act in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. 

Washington, D.C. -- With today’s introduction of the Employee Free Choice Act in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, millions of working families are a step closer to gaining real bargaining rights that will enable them to have a better life and will help move our nation along the road to economic recovery.

We are grateful to Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) for continuing to champion the cause of working people and for being the lead sponsors of this important legislation. We are confident that this measure will become the law of the land, because for the first time in many years, working people have the full support of the President of the United States and of strong majorities in both houses of Congress.  

Sharon Harrison, a member of CWA, today testified before the Senate Health, Employment, Labor and Pension Committee. She spoke about her experience at AT&T Mobility, where workers were able to get union representation through majority signup, and her experiences under the previous management which refused to respect workers’ rights.

She told the committee that “before we had our union, favoritism was a problem. Raises didn’t depend on your job performance but whether your manager liked you. That all changed in 2005 when Cingular Wireless, now AT&T Mobility, took over. Cingular had agreed with CWA to remain neutral, to let workers make up our own minds and to recognize the union if a majority signed up. Because of that agreement, we weren’t afraid anymore that managers would retaliate against us.”

Harrison added: “the Employee Free Choice Act is important because all workers deserve to have the same chance I did to join a union, if that’s what they want. I know firsthand what a big difference it makes when you don’t have to be afraid anymore to stand up for your rights at work.”

The Employee Free Choice Act is the way to rebuild our economy, by increasing workers’ purchasing power and putting the brakes on the extreme income inequality our nation has seen over the past decade. We urge both the Senate and House to move quickly and pass this important legislation.