N.Y. Times Backs Free Choice Act The New York Times has added its voice to the growing chorus of support for the legislation to restore workers' freedom to form unions and bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions.
If President Bush were "truly concerned about rising income inequality and truly committed to improving the lives of America's middle class," the Times says, he would support the bill--which he has threatened to veto. The Times endorsement is a great boost for our campaign to enact the Employee Free Choice Act, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed last week by a wide margin: http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/PdqR13n1JPuU/ As the Times puts it: "Labor unions have a role to play in helping to fix today's economic ills--most notably, worsening income inequality, a problem that's caused in part by unions' decline and the workers' resulting lack of bargaining power. What's needed is a Congressional drive to help Mr. Bush see this obvious connection. The Senate should take up the House bill promptly and send it to the president for his signature." The editorial recognizes that America's working families are struggling to make ends meet these days and that our middle class is disappearing. The best opportunity we have to get ahead economically is by uniting with co-workers to bargain with our employers for a better life. But the current system for forming unions and bargaining is broken. Every day, corporations intimidate, harass, coerce and even fire people who try to organize unions and bargain. This is an urgent crisis blocking our free will and our ability to get ahead. The Employee Free Choice Act would change the system by (1) strengthening penalties for companies that coerce or intimidate employees, (2) establishing mediation and binding arbitration when the employer and workers cannot agree on a first contract and (3) enabling employees to form unions when a majority signs authorization cards. Working family activists like you are doing a great job in making your voices heard on Capitol Hill and spreading the word about how important the Employee Free Choice Act is to all of us. Enjoy the support of the New York Times editorial and pass it on by e-mailing it to five or more friends. http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/PdqR13n1JPuU/ ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Check out the new improvements in Yahoo! Groups email. http://us.click.yahoo.com/4It09A/fOaOAA/yQLSAA/7gSolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
