Community allies, academics in Florida show support for Employee Free Choice Act
In the last few weeks, Florida workers have geared up the campaign to spread the message about the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act outside of the labor community. This has been accomplished through several activities with community groups, allies and elected officials around the state, who have become educated about the bill and express their support. These activities have demonstrated how the Employee Free Choice Act, by leveling the playing field for workers and giving them a greater voice on the job, will benefit everyone.
Community allies, academics in Florida show support for Employee Free Choice Act
In the last few weeks, Florida workers have geared up the campaign to spread the message about the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act outside of the labor community. This has been accomplished through several activities with community groups, allies and elected officials around the state, who have become educated about the bill and express their support. These activities have demonstrated how the Employee Free Choice Act, by leveling the playing field for workers and giving them a greater voice on the job, will benefit everyone.
Community Summit in Orlando
On May 2, 2009, over 50 people representing 35 different community, labor and faith-based groups from Orange County came together to discuss the future of their community. Workers from APWU, ATU, CTA, IATSE, IBEW, OPEIU, SMWIA and UA joined community groups such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Campaign and Grace Interfaith Outreach Center to have a dialogue on how the different organizations can work collectively to accomplish social justice.
At the forum, representatives from labor groups presented information on the Employee Free Choice Act. Keynote speaker Wanda Ramos of Central Florida Jobs with Justice told her story about how she was illegally fired after attempting to form a union with her co-workers. Ramos explained how the Employee Free Choice Act would have made it easier for her to form a union and would have freed her from the fear tactics of companies.
The summit organized in Orlando was an important step in educating and establishing working relationships with like-minded groups and allies. Now that the summit has taken place, the groups plan to collaborate in the future on various social justice issues, including passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.
Town Hall Meeting in Jacksonville
Last Thursday, about 70 workers and members of the community came together for a Town Hall Meeting in Jacksonville about the Employee Free Choice Act. Union members from AFSCME, APWU, CWA, DTU, IAM, IBEW, ILA, UAW and UFF joined the Florida Democratic Party, ACLU, NAACP and other community groups to discuss the bill, and, more broadly, how to build an economy that works for everyone.
Starting off the night was a captivating speech by State Senator Tony Hill, who represents the people of Jacksonville in the state legislature. As a former union organizer, Hill explained that he knew firsthand the laws that are stacked against workers who try to form unions. Additionally he called on those in the audience to act in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.
"I want to make sure that we pass the Employee Free Choice Act," said Senator Hill. "We’re going to have to fight."
In addition to Senator Hill, representatives from Florida National Organization for Women, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans and the NAACP spoke in support of the bill.
"It doesn’t make sense for a CEO to make $20 million dollars and then want to get rid of their union," said Isaiah Rumlin, President of the Jacksonville NAACP. "And that’s the reason why the NAACP has gone on record to support the Employee Free Choice Act."
The event in Jacksonville concluded with a strong call to action. Specifically, the Coalition for a Union-Free Environment (CUE) is holding a conference in the same city today to promote their anti-worker agenda and encourage opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act. In response, hundreds of outraged workers and community members will be protesting at the conference.
More information about this Sunday’s protest at the CUE conference can be found here.
To see more pictures from the Jacksonville Town Hall Meeting, click here.
To watch video from the Jacksonville Town Hall Meeting, click here.
Academic ally in Miami releases pro-union report
On May 6, 2009, Bruce Nissen, Ph.D., Director of the Research Institute for Social and Economic Policy at Florida International University, released a new study entitled "Benefits of Unionization in Florida" at the South Florida AFL-CIO office in Miami. The report highlights how unions particularly benefit women, minorities and service workers across the State of Florida.
Dr. Nissen was joined by representatives from women’s, Hispanic, African American and service worker groups to discuss the findings, which particularly demonstrate the union advantage for minorities and low wage workers. Also in attendance were union members from AFSCME 1184, AFSCME 1363, AFSCME 1542, APWU 172, IBEW 359, IRON 272, OPEIU 100, TWU 291 and TWU 568.
Some of the report’s findings include:
- Florida’s low wage workers who are in unions earn 12.1% more than their non-union counterparts
- Unionized women in Florida make 10.2% more than non-union women
- Hispanic workers in Florida who are in unions make 17.8% over non-union Hispanic workers and are 33.9% more likely to have health insurance
- African American workers in Florida make 13.4% more than their non-union counterparts
"We believe this new study validates the need for workers, especially women and minorities, in this state to have the opportunity to join unions to improve their own lives and the lives of their families. And that’s why unions across the State of Florida are mobilizing like never before to pass the Employee Free Choice Act," said Fred Frost, President of the South Florida AFL-CIO.