Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
Unions Spotlight Bargaining Rights on Capitol Hill
America's system for protecting workers' collective bargaining and organizing rights is broken, leaders from CWA, the AFL-CIO and other unions told a group of 100 key congressional staff leaders in a May 29 briefing.
CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen presented CWA's successful experience with bargaining majority card check and neutrality pacts at SBC and Cingular, and helping workers organize unions under those agreements as an alternative to the increasingly cumbersome National Labor Relations Board election process.
"We now have a labor board that is hollowed out, that can't make any decisions," Cohen pointed out, explaining it takes at least a year to get elections certified.
"In cases where a ballot is necessary, employers can delay elections and can delay bargaining for up to five years," he said, citing workers' ongoing struggle to obtain recognition at the Chinese Daily News, where five journalists have been fired for organizing activity.
Ironically, the National Labor Relations Act, which governs the NLRB, promotes collective bargaining, while today the rights of millions are trampled by union-busting consultants, who help employers avoid unionization as workers face unprecedented crises in obtaining health benefits and pensions.
"The overall crisis can't get much worse," Cohen said, pointing out that nearly 40 percent of workers in Canada are covered by collective bargaining and that several European countries have more than 80 percent of workers under bargained agreements.
Cohen called for members of Congress to support voluntary recognition agreements and changes in labor law to create a level playing field for workers as part of the AFL-CIO's Voice@Work program.
Making it Real
Geoconda Arguello Kline, president of the Culinary Workers, HERE Local 226 in Las Vegas, told Hill staffers how employers intimidate immigrant workers who would otherwise vote to have a union. Her union has gone from 25,000 to 50,000 members through card check agreements with several new major hotels, she said.
"We have to think about this: How we can bring these benefits to more families," she said. "You can only realize the American Dream when you are free," she added, pointing out that workers who are free to form unions bring a higher level of productivity to companies.
Rita Chitwood, an organizer of newly formed Auto Workers Local 5286 in Gastonia, N.C., described how five years ago the Freightliner Co. brought in its CEO to talk to workers in captive audience meetings. "He was very intimidating. People were scared. You're not going to sign a (representation) card if people tell you you're going to lose your job."
Diamler Chrysler took over the plant and agreed to organizing neutrality. "We had our card check earlier this year, and we're still building our union, but the company did the right thing."
Cohen urged lawmakers to participate in Voice@Work by walking a picket line and speaking up for workers in the media, by sitting on Jobs with Justice's Workers Rights Boards of community leaders that hear cases and bring public scrutiny to union busting in organizing drives, and by participating in "Human Rights Day" events CWA and unions are planning for Dec. 10.
Prior to the Hill briefing, Cohen conducted a PowerPoint presentation on the crisis in collective bargaining rights for CWA leaders attending recent Districts 2 and 7 meetings. CWA District 4 Vice President Jeff Rechenbach and District 6 Vice President Andy Milburn have conducted the same presentation for leaders at both of their district meetings. The information has or will be presented at similar meetings throughout CWA.
Friends in High Places
Hill staffers' comments indicated their lively interest. One asked to be notified when unions go on strike or conduct informational picketing in his boss's home district. Another suggested that some of the money companies spend on antiunion consultants, they could pass along to workers.
Sonia Ramirez, legislative assistant to Rep. Ciro Rodriquez (D-Texas) was impressed by how unions have helped immigrant workers in their struggles for decent pay and benefits. "It's really important for Hill staffers to hear their experiences," she said.
Michael Rious, senior legislative assistant to Rep. Albert Wynn (D-Md.), suggested, "Members of Congress certainly have to step up and be more vocal in promoting workers' rights, as they do business and jobs growth."
CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen presented CWA's successful experience with bargaining majority card check and neutrality pacts at SBC and Cingular, and helping workers organize unions under those agreements as an alternative to the increasingly cumbersome National Labor Relations Board election process.
"We now have a labor board that is hollowed out, that can't make any decisions," Cohen pointed out, explaining it takes at least a year to get elections certified.
"In cases where a ballot is necessary, employers can delay elections and can delay bargaining for up to five years," he said, citing workers' ongoing struggle to obtain recognition at the Chinese Daily News, where five journalists have been fired for organizing activity.
Ironically, the National Labor Relations Act, which governs the NLRB, promotes collective bargaining, while today the rights of millions are trampled by union-busting consultants, who help employers avoid unionization as workers face unprecedented crises in obtaining health benefits and pensions.
"The overall crisis can't get much worse," Cohen said, pointing out that nearly 40 percent of workers in Canada are covered by collective bargaining and that several European countries have more than 80 percent of workers under bargained agreements.
Cohen called for members of Congress to support voluntary recognition agreements and changes in labor law to create a level playing field for workers as part of the AFL-CIO's Voice@Work program.
Making it Real
Geoconda Arguello Kline, president of the Culinary Workers, HERE Local 226 in Las Vegas, told Hill staffers how employers intimidate immigrant workers who would otherwise vote to have a union. Her union has gone from 25,000 to 50,000 members through card check agreements with several new major hotels, she said.
"We have to think about this: How we can bring these benefits to more families," she said. "You can only realize the American Dream when you are free," she added, pointing out that workers who are free to form unions bring a higher level of productivity to companies.
Rita Chitwood, an organizer of newly formed Auto Workers Local 5286 in Gastonia, N.C., described how five years ago the Freightliner Co. brought in its CEO to talk to workers in captive audience meetings. "He was very intimidating. People were scared. You're not going to sign a (representation) card if people tell you you're going to lose your job."
Diamler Chrysler took over the plant and agreed to organizing neutrality. "We had our card check earlier this year, and we're still building our union, but the company did the right thing."
Cohen urged lawmakers to participate in Voice@Work by walking a picket line and speaking up for workers in the media, by sitting on Jobs with Justice's Workers Rights Boards of community leaders that hear cases and bring public scrutiny to union busting in organizing drives, and by participating in "Human Rights Day" events CWA and unions are planning for Dec. 10.
Prior to the Hill briefing, Cohen conducted a PowerPoint presentation on the crisis in collective bargaining rights for CWA leaders attending recent Districts 2 and 7 meetings. CWA District 4 Vice President Jeff Rechenbach and District 6 Vice President Andy Milburn have conducted the same presentation for leaders at both of their district meetings. The information has or will be presented at similar meetings throughout CWA.
Friends in High Places
Hill staffers' comments indicated their lively interest. One asked to be notified when unions go on strike or conduct informational picketing in his boss's home district. Another suggested that some of the money companies spend on antiunion consultants, they could pass along to workers.
Sonia Ramirez, legislative assistant to Rep. Ciro Rodriquez (D-Texas) was impressed by how unions have helped immigrant workers in their struggles for decent pay and benefits. "It's really important for Hill staffers to hear their experiences," she said.
Michael Rious, senior legislative assistant to Rep. Albert Wynn (D-Md.), suggested, "Members of Congress certainly have to step up and be more vocal in promoting workers' rights, as they do business and jobs growth."