Employee Free Choice Act

Recent research shows that 60 million workers in America want to join unions.  But employers routinely block their efforts—and our laws are too weak to protect workers. These attacks on workers' rights occur all too frequently among the most vulnerable workers of our society, including women, the working poor of all races, and recent immigrants.  Catholic Social Teaching asks us to protect the dignity of work and the basic rights of workers, including the rights to earn a fair wage and to organize and join unions.

In March 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation known as "The Employee Free Choice Act" that would enable workers to bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions by restoring their rights to form unions. The legislation received bipartisan support and was approved by a 241 to 185 vote, but was filibustered by Senate Republicans in June.

The Employee Free Choice Act would :

• Allow workers to form a union through majority sign-up;
• Stiffen penalties against employers that illegally fire or discriminate against workers for their union activity during an organizing or first contract drive, including requiring employers to pay back-pay to workers whom they are found to have illegally fired;
• Allow employers and newly-formed unions to refer bargaining to mediation and, if necessary, binding arbitration if they are not able to agree on a first contract after 90 days of bargaining.

Giving workers the ability to bargain for better wages and benefits is a key part of strengthening America's middle class.  Union workers earn 30 percent more, on average, than do nonunion workers, and union workers are much more likely to have healthcare, pensions and more generous paid time off.

Witnessing Labor