Letter: Support for union-favored bill
 |
| Advocate Columnists |
 |
Print
Email
Save
Reprints
Twitter
Share
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Re: “Unions want a wider door; businesses say door is open,” The Advocate, Page 1F, Aug. 9.
Gary Perilloux wrote a thorough article on the debate surrounding the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation restoring workers’ choices to form a union.
While the article shared multiple perspectives, we must point out the hypocrisy and misleading attacks opponents of this bill are using to scare Louisianians from supporting the legislation.
Despite what U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, claims, the Employee Free Choice Act will not drive companies out of business or send jobs abroad.
In the current system he embraces, corporations call all the shots, caring more about profits than dedicated workers. Employers regularly use intimidating and illegal tactics to influence the votes cast by employees in favor or against a union.
Right now, 34 percent of employers fire pro-union employees for their support of a union — an illegal action that often results with a mere slap on the wrist, according to a study by a Cornell University professor.
It’s clear that our labor laws are broken and need major reform. And contrary to the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s assertion, this bill gives workers more choice, not less. The chamber is opposed to the bill because it does not want to give up the power to choose how workers form unions.
Through the legislation’s majority sign-up provision, workers, not their bosses, will get to decide. In fact, more than 500,000 workers nationwide have freely and fairly joined unions using the majority sign-up method in the past five years.
The Employee Free Choice Act will also toughen penalties for employers who break the law, and prevent companies from delaying and stalling negotiations to deny workers a contract.
These policies will level the playing field and create an economy that works for all of Louisiana’s families again. We urge Louisiana’s congressional delegation to heed the support of 73 percent of the public, and pass strong labor law reform this year.
Kimberly Freeman, acting executive director
American Rights at Work
Washington, D.C.
Click "Report Abuse" to notify our moderators that a comment may contain objectionable content.
Your comment appears to contain objectionable content and must be reviewed by a site moderator. If your comment is deemed objectionable, it will not appear on the site.
 | ||||
| Most Popular | Most Emailed | Hot Topics | ||
