In Washington, they may have questioned whether the Employee Free Choice Act battle was drawing to a close. Good thing no one told the rest of the country, where rallies and activities in favor of the bill are going strong. From Maine to North Dakota, activists gathered to tell their Senators, the time for the Employee Free Choice Act is now. Here are some highlights of our nationwide effort.
In Pennsylvania:
Parade of workers lobbies Specter on labor bill
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 14, 2009
Local labor organizations figured that, at most, 50 people would want to join together to walk letters, written in favor of pending legislation, to U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's office. Then 300 people filed out of the United Steelworkers Building and headed up the Boulevard of the Allies. The group was stopped shortly after by the police for marching without a permit, waiting around 20 minutes before authorities figured out how the crowd could proceed.
Head of the Allegheny County Labor Council Jack Shea, said the unexpectedly large turnout was "just proof that there was a high level of emotion regarding the Employee Free Choice Act"-- legislation promoted by organized labor and designed to allow workers to organize more easily and end employers' ability to put off ratifying a contract for years.
Union Members Rally Downtown For Employee Free Choice Act
WPXI, April 15, 2009
Pittsburgh-area activists rallied in support of the Employee Free Choice Act on Tuesday. The union members rallied outside the United Steelworkers building and Sen. Arlen Specter's offices in downtown Pittsburgh because the senator decided not to back the Employee Free Choice Act bill, Supporters said the bill enables workers to organize by majority open vote, and it would alter the way unions and employers work out contracts.
Union members to Sen. Specter: Support Employee Free Choice Act
The Citizen's Voice, April 10
On Thursday, about 60 union members rallied across the street from U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's Wilkes-Barre Boulevard office in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.
Union members said the act will make it easier for workers to form a union to bargain with their employers for better wages, health care and job security during the tough economic times. The bill would also help workers secure a contract in a reasonable time period and toughen penalties against employers who violate the law.
>> Change That Works: Pennsylvania
In Colorado:
Pro-labor measure gets local support
Colorado union members back Employee Free Choice Act
Denver Daily News, April 13
Union members in Colorado are joining a national campaign in support of legislation that would allow workers to form a union by getting a majority of workers to sign cards to join instead of holding a so-called secret ballot election. From Grand Junction to Denver, union members and their families have are joining a national campaign in support of legislation that would allow workers to form a union by getting a majority of workers to sign cards to join instead of holding a so-called secret ballot election--the Employee Free Choice Act.
Groups have held informational and leafleting sessions on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, featured moving billboards in Colorado Springs, and rallied outside Coors Field on Friday for opening day. Similar campaign events are scheduled to take place throughout the month in Colorado, ending with a concert at Swallow Hill Music Association in Denver on April 26.
>> Change That Works: Colorado
In Maine:
Activists giving pies to delegation to make point
Associated Press, April 16
This weekend, dozens of Maine residents and volunteers with Change that Works gathered in churches and homes to bake pies to support the Employee Free Choice Act and President Obama's health care reform, delivering the pies on Thursday to all 17 district offices of Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree.
In its announcement urging support for President Obama's health care reform proposals and the Employee Free Choice Act, the SEIU said ''good jobs and affordable health care are as American as blueberry pie.'' Watch the YouTube video "Making Pies For HealthCare in Maine."
In Indiana:
Even if Senator Evan Bayh's ears weren't ringing - his telephone was
WIKY, April 15
Labor leaders gave the Indiana Democrat's office telephone number to more than 100 union members at a rally arranged to pressure Bayh to support the Free Choice Act. Vanderburgh County Commissioners Steve Melcher. Melcher says a Bayh staff member said the senator would support the union organizing legislation if it were amended to a form that could win Senate passage.
In North Dakota...
Employee Free Choice Act Supporters at Capitol
KFYR (NBC) Minot, April 15
Supporters of the Employee Free Choice Act came to the ND state capitol to show their support for the bill in , which congress could soon vote on. The act would change the way unions can form in the workplace, from having an employer demand a vote to having a majority of employees say they want one.
One worker spoke up at the event, saying, "The truth is, the workers do not have a free choice to form a union anymore. Sometimes the consequences are tragic. That's why we need the Employee Free Choice Act. American workers should be able to choose for ourselves. If we want to form a union and how we want to do it."
>> Change That Works: North Dakota
In Louisiana...
WVUE Fox 8 News - New Orleans, April 9
Senator David Vitter explained his position on the Employee Free Choice Act during a town hall meeting in Bernard last week. Supporters of the labor legislation are unhappy with Vitter's criticisms and tactics in opposing the legislation they feel is aimed at rebuilding America's middle class. The meeting also served as the launch point for the state "Faces of Employee Free Choice Act" mobile billboard.
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