The Employee Free Choice Act: Fighting For Workers Right To Organize And Collectively Bargain

The Employee Free Choice Act: Fighting for Workers Right to Organize and Collectively Bargain

Over the past 19 years, Jobs with Justice coalitions have proven again and again that when enough of us stand together, we all start winning. More than 41 million workers say they want a union, yet workers who attempt to organize face vicious employer opposition.

Labor law and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) fail to prevent or punish illegal or immoral employer behavior; 25% of employers illegally fire at least one worker during a union campaign, and 1/3 of employers never negotiate first contracts even after workers vote to join a union. Workers need support from their communities to ensure that they are able to exercise their democratic right to organize.

Our country's labor law system is broken. NLRB elections fail to meet U.S. standards for democratic elections. Employers can obstruct workers' attempts to organize and bargain in bad faith with organized workers and receive only a slap on the wrist, if they are punished at all. We desperately need comprehensive labor law reform, such as the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which would hold employers accountable for respecting workers' rights.

JWJ coalitions throughout our network are engaged in promoting labor law reform-and in fighting alongside workers who are trying to organize every day. When community members stand with public transit workers; when congregations stand with health care workers; when nurses stand with janitors; when we stand together, we can win, even in today's harsh anti-worker climate.

JWJ has worked on thousands of union organizing, bargaining, and first contract campaigns. Since 2000, JWJ has helped more than 70,000 workers organize unions at 160 workplaces. That track record demonstrates the strength of the JWJ model of permanent coalitions, where labor, religious, student, and other community allies commit to work together to support a campaign for as long as it takes, upholding our core principles of solidarity, militant creative action, and strategic power analysis.

Help workers win back their right to organize and have a choice in how that will be decided, either by secret ballot or signing a card.  Link has been broken since at least August 2011

JWJ's first "First Friday" action draws more than 150

Detroit: On March 4, more than 150 people, chanting and carrying signs including ones that read "Money for jobs, not the banks," rallied at the Michigan Labor Legacy Monument near Hart Plaza in Downtown Detroit to call attention to the city's high unemployment.

This First Friday for Full Employment rally, the first one in Detroit, was organized by Southeast Michigan Jobs With Justice (JWJ) and its Jobs Committee along with support from the UAW, Metro Detroit AFL-CIO, SEIU, two postal workers locals, Detroit Federation of Musicians, Moratorium NOW, OPEIU, and AFSCME. First Friday actions also took place in Chicago, New York City, Dayton, Ohio, Portland, Oregon and other cities where there are JWJ chapters.

First Friday actions correspond monthly with the release of the federal government's Bureau of Labor Statistics latest unemployment data. Despite the slight dip in unemployment nationally, First Friday actions serve as a reminder that a jobs deficit still exists and the unemployed still need a safety net to help them survive these tough economic times.

Rep. John Conyers (D-14th District) spoke to the crowd, emphasizing the need for a federal jobs program like the one he is sponsoring in Congress. Detroit Councilwoman Brenda Jones, a CWA member, echoed Detroiters' desperate needs for jobs. OPEIU member and JWJ activist, Maria Catalfio, gave a first-hand account of her bus trip to Wisconsin where she and other OPEIU members joined the massive protests against the proposed union-busting bill submitted by Republican governor, Scott Walker.

The next First Friday action will actually be held on Monday, April 4, in order to help build a rally at the Detroit Federal Building, Cass and Michigan, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., that has been called by the Communications Workers union (CWA) and the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO to support all public employees.

Cynthia Peele is a freelance writer living and working in Detroit, Michigan. 

She also serves as SEM-JWJ Public Relations Director.

Families facing foreclosure arrested at Chase Bank

Read more about the protest and struggle of a group of families facing foreclosure.

Update on Belva Davis' Situation

We won! Belva Davis, our neighbor who was threatened with eviction because the bank refused to modify her mortgage, is for now secure in her home! Thank you so much for your support.

After we picketed the Wachovia/ Wells Fargo branch a month ago, the bank called Belva that afternoon and for the first time offered to negotiate a modified payment. The negotiations that followed were not easy, but with the help of her lawyer, Jerry Goldberg, Belva finally got a payment plan she can afford.

It couldn't have happened without the many friends and activists who contacted the mortgage servicer and showed up to demonstrate their support. Special thanks go to Al Benchich for the great videos he created (with the help of Bob Ingalls) of the rally at Belva's house and the bank picket line. You can still see them at NBrigham.org/belva 

Belva's victory has made our neighborhood stronger, but we certainly aren't out of the woods. The Detroit Free Press reported that our zip code has the second-highest number of foreclosures in metro Detroit. We'd like to keep fighting unjust foreclosures and evictions, and are exploring ideas -- any thoughts you have are more than welcome. If anything develops, we'll keep you posted.

Again, thanks so much,

Nancy and Steve.

Hungry for Justice Campaign

ROC/Andiamos

ROC Michigan Facebook page

Hungry for Justice! - Campaign Updates: We're winning!
Andiamo restaurant workers have reported to us that Andiamo restaurant is now paying overtime to workers inside the restaurant! Meanwhile, Andiamo continues to deny that it owes any wages to the workers who have stood up for their rights. Hats off to the workers who are making a sacrifice to ensure the rights of others and to their supporters who stood with them! We won't stop until we have justice for these workers and know that Andiamo won't go back to its old ways as soon as we're no longer protesting!

UAW Region 1A Announces BOYCOTT of Andiamo Restaurants!

It's Time for Justice!

Thanks to the dozens of UAW Region1A leaders who came out strong today in support of the restaurant workers' struggle for justice at Andiamo! A special thanks to Saundra Williams, Pastor Pitts, and Rory Gamble for speaking out on behalf of the workers!

Campaign Update!! Our next neogitation meeting is less than a week away- September 22nd. Let's keep the pressure on! 

Andiamos Boycott

Bob King, UAW President and Saundra Williams, President of the Metro AFL-CIO increase the pressure on Andiamo Restaurant!

They've let Andiamo management know that they'll be watching to make sure negotiations are conducted in good faith--especially as the fall campaign and fundraising season hits! Many thanks!

Let's keep the power of solidarity in action rolling strong!

Campaign Update!! Our next negotiation meeting is less than two weeks away - September 22nd. Every action counts. Let's keep the pressure on! Join the campaign on our Facebook page!

Hungry for Justice! - Campaign Updates: We're winning! Andiamo restaurant workers have reported to us that Andiamo restaurant is now paying overtime to workers inside the restaurant! Meanwhile, Andiamo continues to deny that it owes any wages to the workers who have stood up for their rights. Hats off to the workers who are making a sacrifice to ensure the rights of others and to their supporters who stood with them! We won't stop until we have justice for these workers and know that Andiamo won't go back to its old ways as soon as we're no longer protesting!

Show your support for Michigan's restaurant workers by clicking on the TAKE ACTION button on the right.

Protestors Break Out in Song at Dearborn Andiamos

More from Justice@Andiamo's...

• Want to get more involved? Join a campaign committee! We've got: social media, faith, public policy, community outreach, and more! Or, find out how you can volunteer as an individual! Interested? Email us at: michiganinfo@rocunited.org
• Want to stay connected to the campaign? Join our facebook page for campaign videos, updates, and the chance to contribute to a growing online community for workplace justice!

Don't Let the Big Banks Steal Our Victory.

Don't Let the Big Banks Steal Our Victory. 

Click here to TAKE ACTION! regarding corporate power in the 

United States banking industry.

Working people in Boston, Detroit Tell Big Banks: 'Good Jobs NOW!'

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On Deaf Ears: A Poem Before Turning Fifty

Detroit poet/activist Aurora Harris performs excerpts of her poem "On Deaf Ears: A Poem Before Turning Fifty", a diatribe about all that's wrong with the United States broken healthcare delivery system. 

Recorded at a "Southeast Michigan Jobs With Justice" forum on healthcare, November 21, 2009 at Peace Lutheran Church, Southfield, Michigan. Produced and edited by Al Benchich & Bob Ingalls.