Join rally at statehouse to support Employee Free Choice Act

June 4, 2007 - OCSEA members are covered by a union contract. However, more than 60 million American workers want to join a union but cannot because the current system for forming unions and bargaining is broken.

What can you do? Take action to support the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).

1.) ATTEND A RALLY - OCSEA is encouraging union members, especially those who work in or near downtown Columbus, to gather for a lunch hour rally on Thursday, June 14. Union members and community groups will meet on the East side of the Statehouse building on 3rd Street. Additional rallies will be held across the state, so check with local Ohio AFL-CIO staff.

2.) PICK UP THE PHONE - Call Senator George V. Voinovich and tell him to pass the Employee Free Choice Act! Dial 1-800-774-8941 to get connected with the senator's office.

3.) SEND A MESSAGE - Urge Sen. Voinovich's support by sending him an email or signing a petition.

EFCA (H.R. 800, S. 1041), supported by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, would level the playing field for workers and employers and help rebuild America’s middle class. It would restore workers’ freedom to choose a union by:

• Establishing stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations.

• Providing mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes.

• Allowing employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation.

Are you still not sure why public employee union members should care about EFCA?

This legislation, already passed in the U.S. House, is very important to OCSEA / AFSCME Local 11 and to all workers whether they work in the private or public sectors.

Increasing the number of union members will strengthen the power of all workers in the workplace and the political arena. In addition, with increased unionization in the private sector, wages and benefits will increase, which reduces the advantage of privatizing public services.

However, employees are fired in 25 percent of union organizing campaigns, 78 percent of employers deliver anti-union propaganda to workers who try to unionize, and after workers form a union, 33 percent are unable to get a contract—we need to protect workers' rights to unionize.

Consider that every day corporations deny workers the freedom to decide for themselves whether to form unions to bargain for a better life. They routinely intimidate, harass, coerce and even fire workers who try to form unions and bargain for economic well-being.

Enough is enough. Please take action today, and plan on attending the rally if you're in Columbus.