Employee Free Choice Talks Continue

There's been a lot of speculation lately about the Employee Free Choice Act, but one thing is clear: there will be strong labor law reform this year. As we have said from Day One, workers in the United States must have the right to form a union and bargain without having to fight their employers. Talks to hammer out a strong, effective bill are continuing in the U.S. Senate; no final decisions have been made.

"We are committed, and our allies in the Senate are committed, to restoring the right of workers to bargain collectively and organize without being bullied and threatened by their employers," CWA President Larry Cohen said.

As the debate continues, a new report from researchers at the University of California-Berkeley, illustrates why the Employee Free Choice Act is so important. "Family-Friendly Workplaces: Do Unions Make a Difference?" shows how unions help workers achieve a better work-life balance with better health care benefits and paid leave.

"In most areas, unionized workers receive more generous family-friendly benefits than their non-union counterparts," the authors state, adding that unions also make sure their members better understand their benefits and how they can use such important programs as the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Click here for more information about the study and a link to the full report.