Unions Fight to Rebuild Middle Class

The Million Member Mobilization for the Employee Free Choice Act is taking center stage as CWA members across the country gear up for the final three months of the 2008 election campaign. Many are saying that the passage of the critical workers rights legislation is as important to workers and the country as health care, retirement security, and fair trade.

"The most important issue is electing a president and Congress who will support the Employee Free Choice Act," said Michael Nguyen, legislative chair for Local 7200. "Organizing more workers will increase union bargaining power which is the key to rebuilding the middle class," he said.

The Employee Free Choice Act permits workers to organize through majority sign up, calls for first-contract arbitration after 120 days, and strengthens employer penalties for violating the law. Workers could continue to organize by secret ballot in an NLRB-sponsored election.

Tens of thousands of CWA members across the country have joined in labor's Million Member Mobilization for Employee Free Choice by signing cards urging Congress and the new president to enact the crucial legislation.

Cards signed by CWA members, along with their headshots, will join hundreds of thousands from dozens of other unions in the U.S. Capitol when the new Congress is sworn in January. "Imagine one million cards at the U.S. Capitol," said Rep. George Miller (D-Ca.), a key sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act. "That's the kind of momentum that we need," he said, warning of business's all-out campaign to kill the legislation.

"Employee Free Choice is a turning point for union members," said CWA President Larry Cohen. "Our future as a movement, our ability to make health care affordable and available for all, our job security; everything depends on this legislation becoming law," he said. "Nothing is more important."

CWA members understand the connection between Employee Free Choice and  bargaining power. Local 7705 shop steward Sam Grondin, who uses every opportunity to enlist supporters, signed up every worker at a contract ratification meeting for workers at a security alarm company in Ogden, Utah. Everyone signed up. "They understand what's at stake because they work at the only union-represented security alarm company in the area. They know how low union density is a handicap," he said.

Locals signed up thousands of supporters during Verizon bargaining mobilization rallies in New York City, Boston, and elsewhere, and are circulating cards to members at Qwest who are engaged in a tough round of bargaining. In Hampton, Virginia, over 150 workers alone signed up at a 400-person Verizon call center. Throughout CWA, members and locals are pitching in however they can. In North Andover, Mass., Local 1365 held a "Dog Days of Summer" picnic to sign up members, their families, and retirees.

When Sen. Barack Obama gives his acceptance speech at the Democratic convention, hundreds of CWA members across the country will be hosting or attending sign up parties.

Sign up online at www.freechoicecwa.org.