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Local/National News Open Enrollment Information Nov 19 - Dec 3 Free Choice Facts In 1935, the National Labor Relations Act provided workers the right to organize and collectively bargain with their employers. It opened the door for major gains in the labor movement, enabling workers to rise to a better standard of living. In the early 1940s, court decisions equated employer free speech with the right of business to run blatant anti-union campaigns, leading to nearly 70 years of increasing union busting. The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 authorized a whole series of employer rights to deter union organizing. In the coming weeks Congress will address legislation that will restore fairness in labor law that today overwhelmingly favors employers. The legislation known as the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) has been under attack by big business interest that have flooded the media with misinformation intended to turn public sentiment against the Act. The Free Choice Act legislation does not abolish the secret ballot or the right to a representation election. Under current law, employers make this decision. Workers need to have the right to make this decision so that they don't have to face as many as six NLRB elections to form a union. The Act will mandate first contract mediation and arbitration when management refuses to agree to a contract within prescribed time frames. If the act becomes law, union organizing will level the playing field between union and non-union companies. Organized labor believes in raising the bottom rather than bringing down what remains of the middle class. I believe the Employee Free Choice Act will do just that.
Bob Mayberry
By Friday, August 7th, we should know the results of the vote to accept or reject the tentative agreement between CWA District 4 and AT&T Midwest. I am on the record as having endorsed this tentative agreement for reasons that have been shared with the membership of Local 4217. I am also convinced that the District 4 Bargaining Committee delivered an agreement that will enhance our standard of living, protect our employment security, provide improvements for employees working under terms of Appendix F and continues to protect retiree benefits. Members can go to the following web sites developed by the CWA National Research Department for an analysis of the health care and wage package. District 4 Wage and Health Care Cost Detail: http://www.cwa-union.org/att/documents/d4_wage_healthcare_detail.pdf
District 4 Wage Gains, Inflation and Health Care: http://www.cwa-union.org/att/documents/d4_wage_gains_inflation_health_care.pdf
Overview of 2009 Union Wage Settlements: http://www.cwa-union.org/att/documents/att_bargaining_recent_wage_settlements_20090721.pdf
In Unity:
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