Hundreds Lobby Congress on Employee Free Choice Act

Above, on the U.S. Senate steps, CWA Local 3403 member Chinoza Okolo joined dozens of union members demonstrating for Employee Free Choice. Below, CWA Local 13500 member Robert Hackenberg, top right in photo, was one of hundreds of union members who met with members of the House and Senate about Employee Free Choice.

This week, hundreds of union members, including CWAers, came to Washington, D.C. to demonstrate, mobilize, and lobby their members of Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.

In events over three days, union members told their stories of real-life employer intimidation and harassment, making the case that the nation's broken labor laws must be fixed.

Union members rallied outside the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to protest the group's multi-million-dollar campaign attacking Employee Free Choice and the excessive CEO pay and bad business decisions that helped create the nation's worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

On the Senate steps, union members rallied, displaying quotes and photos of workers who are fighting for a union voice and real bargaining rights.

And on Capitol Hill, workers met with key members of the Senate and House whose support is critical to winning Employee Free Choice. During a visit with Sen. Robert Casey (D-Pa.), a key sponsor of the bill, CWA Local 13500 member Robert Hackenberg described how poor treatment by management at the former AT&T Wireless call center in Harrisburg, Pa., and management's dirty tricks convinced him "that it was time we had union representation."

John Pezzana, a Comcast worker and member of CWA Local 13000, and others met with Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.); meetings also were held with the staffs and members of Congress from Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, California, Maine, New York and other states. 

"Workers' stories expose the lies that the Chamber and other business front groups have been spreading about Employee Free Choice," said CWA President Larry Cohen.

Activists also participated in workshops and training sessions on building community support for Employee Free Choice. CWA Locals can download, print, and hand out real-life stories by workers on CWA's campaign website http://www.freechoicecwa.org.