Yesterday, thousands of workers from across the nation rallied on Capitol Hill to kick off the delivery of 1.5 million signatures in support of the Employee Free Choice Act. Union members were joined by Senator Tom Harkin, Congressman George Miller, and progressive organizations like the Sierra Club to showcase the widespread public support for this legislation that will rebuild the middle class by reinstating workers’ freedom to bargain collectively for better wages and benefits.
Workers speaking at the rally told their personal stories illustrating the need for the bill.
A legal victory we had last week comes to mind as a good example of how broken the current system of forming unions is. Since the workers impacted weren’t in DC for the rally, here’s the story:
In 2004 and 2005, UNITE HERE filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board to stop the company’s interference with workers’ attempt organizing efforts. Last week, the NLRB finally affirmed an Administrative Law Judge’s conclusion that Cintas management unlawfully interrogated, discriminated against, and even threatened to fire workers at the two facilities for standing up for better pay and safer jobs.
"[These actions] maintained fear in the people. We were afraid of losing our jobs," says Ana Calles, a ten-year employee at the Charlotte laundry, about the company’s campaign of coercion.
Hopefully, last week’s judgment is the first of many pro-worker decisions to come from the Obama administration’s labor board, but the sad reality is that existing laws do not deter companies from intimidating workers. In the case of Cintas, an NLRB judge described the violations as "intensive." Nevertheless the board’s primary remedy is to have the company post notices saying "federal law gives you the right to form, join or assist a union." We feel remedies like this are too weak and take too long to be effective.
The NLRB has found that Cintas has acted unlawfully before, and without stronger penalties, workers fear the company will violate their rights again. That’s why the Employee Free Choice Act is so crucially important to workers. Not only will it strengthen penalties for thwarting employees’ efforts to organize, but it will give workers a fair, democratic process to form their union.
It is crucial that all of us join them in raising our voices to make sure this crucial legislation passes. Ana Calles—who is still fighting for a better, safer Cintas—says explained how forming a union is "the only way to have better pay, good health insurance and equality -- not discrimination" at Cintas.
For more information on the Employee Free Choice Act and what you can do please visit unitehereforchange.org
