Small Business Owners Join Fight for Employee Free Choice

Small business owners are bucking the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and speaking out as strong supporters of Employee Free Choice.

"This last summer my employees wanted to form a union and I welcomed that because I feel that I want my employees to be part of my corporation as it grows and as we all start making a better living," said Ruth Schepp, owner of Ivory Leathers in North Dakota.

Schepp and other small business owners from around the country joined American Rights at Work for a media teleconference to explain why they disagree with business opponents of Employee Free Choice.

Darren Horndasch of Wisconsin Vision said without the strong middle class that unions helped build, "I believe my business is going to suffer." He praised unions for helping to provide additional training for his workers, which has benefited his company. "This has been a positive experience for us for the past 29 years," he said.

Jim O'Maley, owner of Print & Copy Center in Pittsburgh, said union training programs have also helped his workers, and therefore his company, and he believes stronger unions will benefit the country as a whole.

"Corporations have a responsibility to provide a safe environment and fair wages," O'Maley said. "I think when we have strong unions we'll have strong corporations and when we work together, we'll have a strong America."