Veterans, Unions Rally for Employee Free Choice Act
July 3, 2009
Union Veterans Show Support for Right to Join Unions Without Interference
(Little Rock) – Military veterans on Friday said it’s time for Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act during a rally held by members of the Teamsters Union, SEIU, AFL-CIO and Plumbers & Pipefitters. About 50 came to show their support for the federal legislation at the M.M. Eberts American Legion Post #1.
This summer, the U.S. Congress is likely to vote on the Employee Free Choice Act, which would allow workers to choose to join a union through majority sign-up. It would also create stiff penalties for corporations that break the rules – and make it much harder for them to deny unions a first contract.
“The Employee Free Choice Act is about workers’ need versus corporate greed,” said Tim Nichols, president of Teamsters Local 878 in Little Rock. “We can no longer let the CEOs who got us into this mess make the decision to take away workers’ democratic rights in the workplace.”
Under current labor law, management chooses whether workers can decide to form a union through an election or through majority sign-up. The Employee Free Choice Act would let the workers choose. It would NOT take away the secret ballot.
“If I could sign my name to join the Marines, then I should have the right to sign my name to join a union,” said Fred Steubin, a Vietnam veteran and Teamsters Local 878 retiree. Steubin is also a representative with Arkansas Veterans Affairs.
The vote is likely to be close in the Senate. The veterans and union members rallied to let Sens. Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln know of their strong support for the Employee Free Choice Act.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.