March 12, 2009
Employee Free Choice Introduced in House and Senate
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Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.)
and Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) announce the
introduction of the Employee Free Choice
Act in Congress, above. Below, CWA
Local 2204 member Sharon Harrison told the
Senate HELP committee that majority sign up at
AT&T Mobility made all the difference for her
and her co-workers. |
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Millions of working families are a step closer to
having real bargaining rights with the March 10
introduction of the Employee Free Choice Act into the
U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
At a Capitol Hill news conference, Senator Tom Harkin
(D-Iowa) and Representative George Miller (D-Calif.)
announced the introduction of the bill, S. 560 and H.R.
1409. Currently there are 223 cosponsors (including
Miller) in the House and 40 (including sponsor Sen.
Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.) in the Senate.
CWA President Larry Cohen thanked Senator Harkin and
Representative Miller for continuing to champion the
cause of working people and for their leadership on this
important legislation. He called on the House and Senate
to pass the bill, stressing that only through Employee
Free Choice "will we rebuild our economy, increase
workers' purchasing power and put the brakes on the
extreme income inequality our nation has seen over the
past decade."
At a hearing of the Senate Health, Employment, Labor
and Pension committee, chaired by Senator Harkin, panels
of workers and economists testified that the Employee
Free Choice Act is necessary to rebuild the nation's
middle class.
Sharon Harrison, a member of CWA Local 2204 in
Lebanon, Va., told the committee about her experiences
at AT&T Mobility, where workers were able to get union
representation through majority signup, after suffering
under a previous management that harassed and
intimidated workers who wanted union representation.
"Before we had our union, favoritism was a problem.
Raises didn't depend on your job performance but whether
your manager liked you. That all changed in 2005 when
Cingular Wireless, now AT&T Mobility, took over.
Cingular had agreed with CWA to remain neutral, to let
workers make up our own minds and to recognize the union
if a majority signed up. Because of that agreement, we
weren't afraid anymore that managers would retaliate
against us," she said.
CITIBANK BUTTS
IT'S BAILED
OUT NOSE
INTO EFCA
DEBATE
March 12, 2009
Embattled financial giant
Citigroup Inc., which has received at least $50
billion in federal bailout funds, your
tax dollars, hosted a private conference call on
Wednesday to build opposition to the Employee Free
Choice Act.
The call, which came just
one day after the labor-backed legislation was
introduced in Congress, represents a growing effort on
Citi's behalf to air concerns about the bill, which
would make it easier for employees to organize. On
Tuesday, the bank downgraded Wal-Mart's rating over
fears that the Employee Free Choice Act could pass.
Wednesday's conference call
was led by Glenn Spencer, a senior executive at the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce and an ardent EFCA opponent. It was
promoted as "An Update on the Employee Free Choice Act,"
but much of the content was focused on demonizing the
legislation. EFCA will "inhibit flexibility," "hamper
companies from competing effectively," and prove
"cumbersome" for business, declared Spencer. "From the
Chamber's perspective, and I would say probably from the
whole business communities perspective, there are really
no amendments you could make to this bill that would
make it acceptable."
The lines of attack from the
Chamber official were familiar. But Citigroup's
participation, led by retail analyst Deborah Weinswig,
raised some eyebrows. The bank has received ample
taxpayer-funded aid through the TARP program,
leading some to question whether rallying support for an
anti-union effort was the best use of its time or that
money.
"Everyone
should recognize that when we are talking about
Citigroup here, the emperor has no clothes," said Dan
Pedrotty, director of the Office of Investment at the
AFL-CIO. "You have a company surviving on taxpayer
largess weighing in against workers who want to improve
their lives."
And with Citigroup lowering
Wal-Mart's rating one day before the call, some were
left wondering whether the bank was deliberating trying
to frame EFCA as so calamitous for business that
Congress would recoil from touching it. Indeed, as
pointed out by one Democratic observer, Weinswig was
high on Wal-Mart just a few weeks ago, giving the
company a 9.5 rating out of 10.
"Citigroup and the Chamber
of Commerce have no shame," said Stephen Lerner,
director of the Private Equity Project at SEIU. "One
day, Citi issues a report claiming it would hurt the
stock of the Billionaire Walton family if free choice
passes and workers win decent wages. Then they follow it
up with a conference call where the Chamber of Commerce
claims paying workers a living wage is bad for the
economy."
Asked for comment about the
bank's role in the EFCA debate, Citi spokesman Duncan
Smith said that the company had a responsibility to
advise clients on pertinent legislative matters. "The
role of Citi analysts is to make stock recommendations
to investing clients, and in doing so they examine a
broad range of factors that may affect a company's
market position," he said.
Citi held a conversation
with union officials on EFCA some time ago, according to
another source, though not along the lines of a
conference call to drum up support. Asked whether the
firm would host a separate call with analysts favorable
to the legislation's passage, Smith replied: "Weinswig
may host further calls on EFCA for clients in the
future. No further comment."
Other bailout recipients
have also hosted calls designed to stir up opposition to
the Employee Free Choice Act. As reported by the
Huffington Post, Bank of America hosted an even more
vehemently anti-EFCA forum just three days after
receiving $25 billion in federal bailout funds. Good
government groups responded by urging an investigation
into the whether the call's hosts were trying to solicit
political donations. Rep. Keith Ellison, meanwhile,
questioned the bank's CEO over whether he was using
taxpayer dollars to dissuade unionization.
During Wednesday's call with
Citigroup, Spencer offered some insight into the
forthcoming EFCA debate. With the legislation introduced
on Tuesday, he declared that the prospects of passage
were up in the air. Democrats in the Senate did not have
the 60 votes needed for cloture, he predicted, as
elected officials were "looking at the economy and
thinking is this really the right time to put a bill
like this into place."
At one point, Weinswig
herself engaged the discussion (after mostly moderating
questions) by highlighting some anti-EFCA academic
material. Citing a study from a Canadian professor, she
said that "for every two percentage points gained in
union membership through card check and mandatory
arbitration, the following year's unemployment rate is
expected to increase by one percentage point, and job
creation is predicted to fall by about 1.5 million
jobs."
Union officials scoffed at
these projections, arguing that increased union
membership would result in more money for working class
families to spend. That, in turn, would spur economic
growth and job creation.
"Let's remember, these are
the same business 'experts' who brought us the housing
crisis, record unemployment and the stock market
collapse," said Lerner. "Now they're trying to tell us
that raising wages, growing the middle class and putting
more money in workers' pockets is somehow bad for the
economy. American workers' patience for economic theory
from wealthy corporate interests wore thin about two
bailouts ago."
Hundreds Lobby Congress on Employee Free Choice Act
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Above, on the U.S. Senate
steps, CWA Local 3403 member Chinoza Okolo
joined dozens of union members demonstrating for
Employee Free Choice. Below, CWA Local 13500
member Robert Hackenberg, top right in photo,
was one of hundreds of union members who met
with members of the House and Senate about
Employee Free Choice. |
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This week, hundreds of union members, including
CWAers, came to Washington, D.C. to demonstrate,
mobilize, and lobby their members of Congress to pass
the Employee Free Choice Act.
In events over three days, union members told their
stories of real-life employer intimidation and
harassment, making the case that the nation's broken
labor laws must be fixed.
Union members rallied outside the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce to protest the group's multi-million-dollar
campaign attacking Employee Free Choice and the
excessive CEO pay and bad business decisions that helped
create the nation's worst economic crisis since the
Great Depression.
On the Senate steps, union members rallied,
displaying quotes and photos of workers who are fighting
for a union voice and real bargaining rights.
And on Capitol Hill, workers met with key members of
the Senate and House whose support is critical to
winning Employee Free Choice. During a visit with Sen.
Robert Casey (D-Pa.), a key sponsor of the bill, CWA
Local 13500 member Robert Hackenberg described how poor
treatment by management at the former AT&T Wireless call
center in Harrisburg, Pa., and management's dirty tricks
convinced him "that it was time we had union
representation."
John Pezzana, a Comcast worker and member of CWA
Local 13000, and others met with Senator Arlen Specter
(R-Pa.); meetings also were held with the staffs and
members of Congress from Virginia, North Carolina,
Arkansas, Louisiana, California, Maine, New York and
other states.
"Workers' stories expose the lies that the Chamber
and other business front groups have been spreading
about Employee Free Choice," said CWA President Larry
Cohen.
Activists also participated in workshops and training
sessions on building community support for Employee Free
Choice. CWA Locals can download, print, and hand out
real-life stories by workers on CWA's campaign website
http://www.freechoicecwa.org.
Cohen, Catucci Attend White
House Signing on Stem Cell Research
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Retired District 2 Vice
President Pete Catucci joins House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi and CWA President Cohen at the White
House as President Obama lifts the ban on
federal funds for critical stem cell research. |
CWA President Larry Cohen and retired District 2 Vice
President Pete Catucci joined members of Congress,
scientists, and others at the White House as President
Barack Obama signed an executive order that removed
restrictions on responsible scientific research
involving embryonic stem cells.
The action reverses the Bush adminstration's limits
on federal funding for this critical research. "It's
time we once again put science at the top of our agenda
and work to restore America's place as the world leader
in science and technology," Obama said.
After the signing, President Obama greeted Catucci
and wished him well. Catucci was diagnosed with ALS,
known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in early 2007. Since
stepping down as a CWA leader in 2008, he has been a
tireless fighter to restore federal funds for
this effort.
Catucci said, "stem cell therapy is real. It's time
the United States caught up with the rest of the world
and moved forward. I am grateful to President Obama for
reversing the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem
cell research that's blocked so much important research
over the past eight years."
Cohen said that the action "marks the triumph of
sound science over attempts to politicize this and other
life-saving research. Now we have a real opportunity to
develop effective therapies that will improve the lives
of millions of people."
President Obama also signed a Presidential Memorandum
to restore "scientific integrity in government decision
making."
Flight Attendants Seek Support, Fairness from
Congress
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Northwest Airlines flight
attendant Renee Foss, AFA-CWA Local 21091, talks
with Delta and Northwest flight attendants on
Capitol Hill for meetings with members of
Congress. |
More than 120 flight attendants – members of the
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA at United and
Northwest Airlines and union activists from Delta Air
Lines – went to Capitol Hill this week, seeking support
for upcoming negotiations and Senate confirmation of a
fair-minded nominee to oversee labor laws covering
airline workers at the National Mediation Board.
With bargaining for a new contract at United
beginning this April for 17,000 AFA-CWA members, United
flight attendants urged members of Congress to support
AFA-CWA efforts to restore industry-leading levels of
pay, benefits and working conditions at the airline.
During United's bankruptcy, the workers sustained
significant wage reductions, reduced health benefits, a
loss of pensions, and longer working hours.
Restoring fairness, integrity and pro-worker
leadership to the NMB is a critical concern for flight
attendants at United as well as at Northwest and Delta.
If bargaining at United goes beyond Aug. 7, flight
attendants will need the assistance of the NMB to reach
a fair settlement and not be subject to lengthy delays.
A fair-minded NMB also is vital for flight attendants
at Delta and Northwest, who will be facing a tough
anti-union campaign from management. Delta's 13,000
flight attendants don't have union representation and
are fighting for a union voice. AFA's 7,000 members at
Northwest seek to protect more than 60 years of
collective bargaining. Both groups want to negotiate an
industry leading contract. That's why it's critical to
have an NMB in place that will protect workers'
organizing and bargaining rights.
Vote on AT&T Mobility "Orange" Contract Gets
Underway
Voting materials will be going out Friday, March 13,
to CWA members at AT&T Mobility covered by the "Orange"
contract. Members will vote on the tentative settlement
that covers more than 20,000 Mobility workers in
Districts 1, 2, 4, 7, 9 and 13.
Ballots will be counted on April 2, at CWA
headquarters. Districts will have observers attending
the ballot count.
AT&T Locals to Mobilize for Employment Security
As AT&T Core bargaining continues across the country,
CWA locals are planning mobilization actions for
Thursday, May 19, as part of a coordinated "National Day
on Employment Security."
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson has publicly praised CWA
members and its positive relationship with CWA as
important elements of the company's success.
CWAers will call on the company to bargain fair
contracts with real employment security, including
access for members to the jobs of the future.
Locals are asked to send photos and a brief account
of their actions to
unityatATT@cwa-union.org.
Locals Urged to Plan Now for April 28 Workers'
Memorial Day
Materials to help CWA locals mark the annual Workers
Memorial Day on April 28 are now available for order
from the AFL-CIO.
"Participation in Workers' Memorial Day 2009 is of
particular significance to CWA," CWA President Larry
Cohen said. "During the last year, we lost several of
our members to workplace fatalities. In addition, many
of our members have suffered work-related injuries,
illnesses, and 'near misses,' in some cases, suffering
severe medical disorders."
"However, with the historic election of Barack Obama,
we have the opportunity to strengthen workplace safety
and health protections and to mobilize and organize
around safety and health issues."
The theme for Workers' Memorial Day this year is
"Good Jobs, Safe Jobs. Give Workers a Voice for Change."
The AFL-CIO materials can be ordered by going online
to
www.aflcio.org/shop or by calling the federation's
health and safety department at (202) 637-5367. CWA
Occupational Safety and Health Director Dave LeGrande is
available to help locals plan events. He can be reached
at (202) 434-1160 or by e-mail at
legrande@cwa-union.org. CWA locals also are asked to
let LeGrande know about events and actions they are
planning. |
