Workers’ Stories are Powerful Force for Bill

Hundreds of workers came to Washington to mobilize and meet with members of Congress and press for action on Employee Free Choice.

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.

At a packed hearing March 10 of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, chaired by Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), panels of workers and economists testified that the Employee Free Choice Act is necessary to rebuild the nation's middle class.

CWA Local 2204 member Sharon Harrison recalled how the head of her company, now AT&T Mobility, "came to our call center when we were signing up for union representation and made it clear that under his management, there would be full respect for workers' rights. That set the tone."

More than a majority of workers at the Lebanon, Va., call center signed petitions in favor of the union. "All workers deserve to have the same chance I did to join a union if that's what they want to do. I know firsthand what a big difference it makes when you don't have to be afraid anymore to stand up for your rights at work," Harrison said. She was one of two dozen CWA members at the events.

Union members and supporters also rallied in front of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is funding a massive anti-Employee Free Choice attack campaign.

After the hearing, workers set out in small groups for more than 100 meetings with senators and representatives and their staffs. Visiting Sen. Robert Casey (D-Penn.), CWA Local 13500 member Robert Hackenberg described how management's "dirty tricks" and poor treatment of workers at what was then an AT&T Wireless call center in Harrisburg 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.); Pezzana told Specter that it took four elections and six years to get a first contract at Comcast. CWAers also met with the staffs and members of Congress from Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, California, Maine, New York and other states. 

Profiles featuring more than 20 CWA members, whose stories illustrate why Employee Free Choice is so important, are available at http://www.freechoicecwa.org. Locals are encouraged to print out the one-page profiles and distribute them to elected officials and community leaders.