Posted on 01/28/2009 9:24:30 PM PST by Steelfish
US Congress: Pass Employee Free Choice Act Proposed Law Protects Right to Organize, Bargain Collectively
JANUARY 27, 2009
Download the report "The Employee Free Choice Act: A Human Rights Imperative"
Weak US labor law effectively denies millions of workers the right to form a union and bargain collectively. Congress should bring worker protections closer to international standards by passing the Employee Free Choice Act.
Carol Pier, senior researcher on labor rights and trade for Human Rights Watch (Washington, DC) - US lawmakers should back a proposed law to strengthen protections for workers who are trying to organize a union and bargain collectively, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
The 12-page report, "The Employee Free Choice Act: A Human Rights Imperative," details how US labor law facilitates abuses and violates international standards. Human Rights Watch has in the past extensively documented systematic interference with the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively in the United States.
"Weak US labor law effectively denies millions of workers the right to form a union and bargain collectively," said Carol Pier, senior researcher on labor rights and trade for Human Rights Watch. "Congress should bring worker protections closer to international standards by passing the Employee Free Choice Act."
i’m still a newbie on a lot of political topics but tell me
does this mean secretarys in the gov’t sector and private sector have a right to form a union?
Orwellian is a good description. This includes the private ballot alterations that protected somewhat against union thuggery. How small of an employee number base is affected by this?
This law takes away the secret ballot from workers voting on whether or not to unionize...leaving them open to intimidation.
It makes it harder to fire employees, regardless of the cause. It takes away the right to a private ballot in union voting (gives unions more power). It is very bad for business in general. Another step towards socialism IMO.
i was only using “secretarys” as an example it could be any class of workers and yes it is another step towards socialism
it takes away the work ethic.
I haven’t read the updated version, but as of last year it was any business with over $50,000 in sales unless it’s retail then it needs to $500,000. You could get together with a few fellow employees and form a union in fifteen minutes if this passes in congress.
Anything Human Rights Watch says you can believe pretty much the exact opposite is true.
“i’m still a newbie on a lot of political topics but tell me
does this mean secretarys in the gov’t sector and private sector have a right to form a union?”
Simplistically, it’s the elimination of private voting.
Consider when you go to your town hall to vote for the President (other).
Do you want to raise your hand or vote in a private booth (anonymously, without intimidation).
The application is being put forth to business/union.
That is exactly why the Pubbies need to introduce a bill to eliminate the right to a private vote in federal elections. Of course it would never pass but the point is to highlight what the Employee Free Choice Act would represent.
vote in private!
no matter how bad it is, it can always be worse.
This definitely makes things worse.
It means union mob bosses can openly keep tabs on how their victims vote. Do the wrong thing and that nice little car you just paid off will need new tires or a new paint job. Or, if you don't listen, you may get to have a friendly "chat" with a few of the organizers in an ally who will help you understand how it is in your best interest (and your family's) to "participate". Get the picture? Think I'm kidding? I grew up around The Motor City.
Well well well - this is sure to stimulate the economy I think they should go for it/sarc...
Did someone mention Orwellian?
The Employee Free Choice Act would strip workers of their fundamental rights and leave them more vulnerable to pressure than before.
Should employees be able to get together as a group and bargain collectively?
To an extent yes. I don’t think that all practices regarding businesses such as a sole proprietorship or partnerships etc. should be dictated by the employees. That is just reckless and would put many small businesses out of business. A ten person company where eight of them are on strike for more benefits, vacation pay, scheduling changes, etc. would go out of business very quickly with the legal options accorded to unions.
Everyone already has the freedome to enter into collective bargaining agreements. However, currently they vote on it via secret ballots, and generally when people are free to make the choice in private they decide against unionization. This will eliminate the private ballots and allow the thugs to increase the voting via intimidation.
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