Congressman Andre Carson represents Hoosiers in the 7th District of Indiana and is a strong supporter of labor and workers' rights. Below is a letter that Representative Carson sent to his colleagues in Congress.
You can click here when you're done reading to send Representative Carson a 'thank you' message for supporting the rights of workers here in Indiana and across the country by not only co-sponsoring the Employee Free Choice Act, but also actively engaging his colleagues to do the same.
STAND UP FOR WILLIAM SELM: SUPPORT THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT
From: The Honorable Andre Carson
Bill: H.R. 1409
Date: 5/29/2009
"When I talk to doorman in other cities where they have unions, I’m always struck by their professionalism and years of service. I loved my job as a doorman. That’s why I’m fighting to make our jobs better."
- William Selm, former Westin doorman
Dear Colleague,
I write to call your attention to the real life experience of William (Bill) Selm, an award-winning hotel doorman in my district, the 7th Congressional of Indiana, who lost his job for speaking out on behalf of his fellow workers.
For fourteen years, Bill Selm was the doorman at the Westin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. As the well-known face of the Westin to guests and the downtown community, he was much more than just a doorman. Bill was the Westin Employee of the Year (1998) and honored by the city with the Indianapolis ROSE Award (2003) for customer service excellence. In 2005, Bill even spoke on behalf of the Westin at a Statehouse rally to bring funding to our Convention Center expansion.
What changed? Bill dared to speak up about the outsourcing of his co-workers' jobs.
In November of 2007, a majority of workers from the Westin, including Bill, signed and delivered a petition to Westin management requesting a fair process for workers to choose whether to form a union in an environment free from intimidation. To this day, Westin management has ignored the workers’ request. Instead, the Westin began subcontracting the bell/valet departments to another company, giving workers less than two weeks notice. Westin employees, including Mr. Selm, were rehired by the subcontractor with no seniority, pay cuts, and fewer benefits. When the Westin continued to outsource more jobs, Bill spoke up for his fellow workers. Within hours, he was banned from the Westin property and now works at another area hotel, where his pay has dropped from $8.40 to $3.50 an hour.
We have all heard the arguments about the Employee Free Choice Act. The truth is that what happened to Bill and other Westin employees would not have happened if the Employee Free Choice Act were the law. Employers should not be able to punish workers who demand the right to unionize, nor should they be able to ignore workers’ repeated requests to form a union. I encourage each of you to remember Bill Selm’s story and join me in standing up for Bill and the millions of workers across this nation by supporting the Employee Free Choice Act.
To cosponsor the Employee Free Choice Act, please contact Meredith Regine at meredith.regine@mail.house.gov
Sincerely,
André Carson
Member of Congress
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Please click here and thank Representative Carson for not only co-sponsoring the Employee Free Choice Act, but also actively engaging his colleagues to do the same.