Category Archives: Employee Free Choice Act

AFL-CIO delegates elect officers, Exec. Council

Posted on by
Reply

Delegates to the AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh this summer elected Richard Trumka as president and Liz Shuler as secretary-treasurer, and re-elected Arlene Holt Baker as executive vice president of the 11.5-million member labor federation.

Shuler, 39, is the youngest person ever to become an officer of the AFL-CIO.

The trio was voted into office by acclamation during the five-day convention, held Sept. 13-17. Trumka previously served as AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer; Shuler is the former executive assistant to Electrical Workers (IBEW) President Edwin Hill.

Convention delegates also elected 51 vice presidents who will make up the AFL-CIO Executive Council. AFT President Randi Weingarten was among the vice presidents re-elected to the council.

Meanwhile, the 265,000-member UNITE HERE rejoined the AFL-CIO on the final day of the convention.

Underscoring the importance of unity within the labor movement at a moment when working families have an opportunity to win landmark improvements in jobs, health care and labor law, AFL-CIO President Trumka presented a charter to UNITE HERE President John Wilhelm.

 

And the survey says …:Americans back workers’ right to form unions

Posted on by
Reply

A new survey released by the AFL-CIO in early January shows 78 percent of those polled want to see legislation that protects workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain for a better life—a strong signal to lawmakers to pass the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).

The survey of 1,007 adults across the country, conducted Dec. 4-10 for the AFL-CIO by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, shows a striking level of support for EFCA provisions and the freedom to form unions. This support crosses party and state lines, with 74 percent of those who identify as moderate or liberal Republicans in favor.

Among the key findings:

  • 75 percent of those surveyed support recognizing a union when a majority of workers have signed up in support.
  • 64 percent support strengthening penalties against companies who illegally intimidate or fire workers who are trying to form a union.
  • 61 percent favor binding arbitration if a company will not agree to a first contract. (This provision had the highest number of respondents who weren’t sure how they felt about it.)