Senator Voinovich Lets Down Working Families
The Employee Free Choice Act has a Majority Vote
but Senate Rule Stymies It

The Senate voted 51-48 to move forward on the Employee Free Choice Act. Unfortunately, despite clear majority support for this important issue, Senate Democrats failed to reach the 60 vote threshold necessary to invoke cloture and move the bill forward.

The Senate failed to garner the bi-partisan support found in the House of Representatives where they overwhelmingly voted in support of the Act. Senate Democrats were clearly siding with American workers and working families, providing 50 of the 51 votes. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans used the 60 vote threshold to stop the bill from moving forward.

Please contact Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and thank him for his support and contact Senator George Voinovich and express your disappointment that he voted against working families.

They haven't heard the last from workers on this issue.

** Click here for more information and photos of **
Employee Free Choice Act rallies across the state.

6.4.07 - Lucas County Commissioners pass a resolution to
support the Employee Free Choice Act on June 5th.
Read more>>

The Issue :
Employee Free Choice Act (H.R.800)
was co-sponsored by 233 members of congress including Ohio Representatives Marcy Kaptur, Dennis Kucinich, Steve LaTourette, Tim Ryan, Zack Space, Betty Sutton, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, and Charlie Wilson. Now, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), along with 46 co-sponsors, introduced the Employee Free Choice Act, S. 1041, in the U.S. Senate.
Read text Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800) | Read summary of the bill

The Employee Free Choice Act will:

• Create stronger penalties against companies that violate workers' freedom to form unions.
• Provide mediation and arbitration when workers and the employer cannot agree on a first contract.
• Allow workers to form unions and bargain for a better life once a majority signs union authorization cards.

For more information visit
www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org.

Update
Fight for Employee Free Choice Act Moves to Senate Read more>>
America’s working families scored a major victory when the U.S. House passed the Employee Free Choice Act by 241–185. It has now been introduced in the Senate.
>>Get the details here - House Passes Free Choice Act | March 1, 2007
>>Floor debate was successfully led by Congresswoman Betty Sutton from Ohio.
>>Click here to check the Congressional voting record.

Making News - The Employee Free Choice Act Passes House!
In recent events across the state, elected officials have spoken in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

• House Passes Free Choice Act - March 1, 2007
• See video of Charlie Wilson at the Electrical Workers Union Hall in Reno, Ohio
• Read a Plain Dealer Op-Ed by AFL-CIO President, John J. Sweeney and Ohio AFL-CIO President Bill Burga on the Employee Free Choice Act
• See a FULL LIST of current news on the Employee Free Choice Act in our News and Media Center
  

Why should you take action?
Employees are fired in 25% of union organizing campaigns,
78% of employers deliver anti-union propaganda to workers who try to unionize, and after workers form a union, 33% are unable to get a contract - we need to protect workers' rights to unionize.

The Employee Free Choice Act: Penalizes companies that coerce or intimidate employees in an effort to prevent them from forming a union, brings in a neutral third party to settle contracts and establishes majority sign-up. Read more>>

‘America Needs Employee Free Choice Act’
If you want to know what really happens when America’s workers try to form a union and why the Employee Free Choice Act is so important, listen to the stories of workers featured in an AFL-CIO audio report. Read more>>

More on this Issue:
Question & Answers About EFCA
EFCA Talking Points

See National AFL-CIO
web site for additional information>>