New York Times Editorial Supports Employee Free Choice Act

A strong lead editorial in the New York Times reinforces the need for the Employee Free Choice Act, to counter the unfairness of the current broken system. "There is little doubt that federal rules and regulations for union organizing have also become increasingly hostile to labor. If Mr. Bush were, as he claims, truly concerned about rising income inequality and truly committed to improving the lives of America's middle class, he would support the legislation and urge the Senate to approve it," the New York Times wrote.   

The March 6 editorial followed passage of the Employee Free Choice Act in the House of Representatives by a 241- 185 vote. "The most significant change in the bill is known as a majority signup, which would allow employees at a company to unionize if a majority signed cards expressing their desire to do so," the editorial said. "Under current law, an employer can reject the majority's signatures and insist on a secret ballot. But in a disturbingly high number of cases, the employer uses the time before the vote to pressure employees to rethink their decision to unionize."

Verizon Business technicians in New England and New York, whose choice for union representation was verified by prominent elected officials and community leaders in New England, were featured in a newspaper ad by CWA in the New York Times and the Boston Globe. The ad called on Verizon to respect the workers' choice and recognize their bid for union representation. 

"Other techs at Verizon and workers at companies like ours around the world have bargaining rights," the ad states, explaining that a majority of workers have signed cards seeking a union. "Now it's time for Verizon to do what's right and recognize our right to a union voice and fair contract."

The ad is part of CWA's campaign pressing employers to recognize the rights of workers to make a free and fair choice about union representation and to bargain a fair contract.

The ad also points out that leading elected officials are supporting the Employee Free Choice Act and the campaign by the former MCI technicians for a union voice.

CWA and the IBEW are working together to force Verizon to "Tear Down the Wall" it created between the union-represented and non-union parts of the company.

See the ad on CWA's homepage at ga.cwa-union.org. Read the New York Times editorial at http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/efca/