The Employee Free Choice Act, a bill before the Congress, would make it easier for workers to join unions if they want. More than ever, workers need the bargaining strength at contract time that comes with union membership. Union workers earn up to 20% more than non union workers and are 25% more likely to have employer-paid health care and pensions.
Yet, even though millions of workers say they would like to join a union, the current system prevents most of them from getting the chance to freely decide on union membership.
The bill, which is now being hotly debated, would restore a fair balance between employers and employees by making sure that it’s the workers themselves, and not their bosses, that get to decide on union membership.
Nobel Economist Paul Krugman has written an open letter to President Obama explaining his view of the economic crisis and why he supports the Employee Free Choice Act. You can read his letter here.
Below is a selection of newspaper clips and opinions offered by BJ’s leaders in support of the bill.
