Workers at Georgia Pacific can tell you exactly why we need the Employee Free Choice Act. They fought over 2 years for a first contract with a company that intimidated, threatened, and then stalled in efforts to frustrate the workers and break the union. See their stories here.
Workers at Georgia Pacific are another textbook example of why America needs the Employee Free Choice Act. It took almost 2 years after workers voted ‘yes’ to forming a union for them to actually get a first contract.
Brian McIntosh is a former worker at Georgia Pacific who was fired before the workers were able to reach an agreement with Georgia Pacific. Hear Brother McIntosh tell his story below:
"Anyone who opposes this legislation needs to stop and listen to workers like us who know firsthand the lengths employers will go to defeat a union. The last 3 years of our lives have been consumed by this, all because we wanted a union. Last time I checked, employees are supposed to be guaranteed that right, I can tell you that’s a joke. We need the Employee Free Choice Act," said McIntosh.
Tom Perez is another worker from Georgia Pacific who is also a member of the negotiating team. See video of Tom Perez from the Indiana University Teach-In where he shared his story with professors, students, and community members below.
The courage, perseverance, and dedication exemplified by Tom, Brian, and their fellow brothers and sisters who can now proudly call themselves members of the United Steelworkers, is inspiring. These workers stood strong and finally prevailed in settling a first contract, but it took 2 years too long. Stand with workers at Georgia Pacific and other workers across the country, call and write Senator Bayh to tell him this cannot continue to go on in America.
"No one should have to go through what we went through," said Brother Perez.