Until Congress Acts, Right To Join A Union Exists Primarily On Paper

AFSCME’s McEntee: “It’s time to put some teeth back into our labor laws”

WASHINGTON — Gerald W. McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, issued the following statement today as the Employee Free Choice Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives:

“Employers are routinely denying workers the basic American right to associate freely and join together for a voice at work. The Employee Free Choice Act will put some teeth back into our labor laws, because right now management can run roughshod over the rights of workers with the blessing of the labor board.

“Every 23 minutes, an American worker is fired or discriminated against for trying to join a union. There is now an entire cottage legal industry dedicated to helping businesses foil workers who try to unionize. Sadly, their business is booming.

“The Employee Free Choice Act will give employees the freedom to make their own choices about whether to have a union, without interference by management. Until Congress acts, the right to join a union exists primarily on paper.”

AFSCME’s 1.6 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in hundreds of different occupations – from nurses to corrections officers, child care providers to sanitation workers – AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and prosperity and opportunity for all working families.

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American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
1625 L Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036-5687
Telephone (202) 429-1145
Fax (202) 429-1120