Unions

Senate bill to protect workers, combat employer intimidation achieves majority in Senate, but not the needed 60-vote threshold

June 26, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today decried the Senate’s failure to pass legislation they cosponsored to protect the rights of workers who choose to join a union.    » read more »

06/26/2007 -- WASHINGTON D.C. – Senator John Kerry today made the following statement on the Employee Free Choice Act, to remove barriers for workers trying to organize. The Act failed a cloture vote this morning; the vote was 51-48. The legislation would have mandated that employers recognize a majority vote by workers who want to form a union. Sen. Kerry is an original co-sponsor and longtime supporter of the Employee Free Choice Act.    » read more »

June 26, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C—Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to the cloture vote on the Employee Free Choice Act.    » read more »

June 26, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement on the Senate’s failure to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, which would give recognition to a union once a majority of workers sign up:    » read more »

June 26, 2007 -- Washington, DC — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada made the following remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate today in support of the Employee Free Choice Act:    » read more »

June 26, 2007 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) spoke on the Senate Floor today in support of the Employee Free Choice Act (S. 1041), legislation to level the playing field between workers and employers. The legislation specifically allows employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation; establishes stronger penalties for illegal interference with labor organizing; and provides mediation and arbitration for contract disputes.    » read more »

June 25, 2007 -- (As Prepared for Delivery)

Over the years, the American workplace has changed immensely for the better. It was not so long ago that the normal workday was 10 hours or even more. The workweek was six days. There was no overtime pay or minimum wage. Workers regularly risked injury or death on the job because there were no workplace laws. There was no workers compensation. Children often worked long hours in dangerous, unhealthy factories.    » read more »

June 22, 2007 -- (As delivered)

"Mr. President, we're all thankful for those comments given by our members about the extraordinary bravery and heroism of our men and women who serve in the armed forces of our country, and all of us are day after day salute to their courage and their dedication to the country and it reminds us of our responsibility of making sure we're going to get the policy right in Iraq. More about that at another time.    » read more »

June 20, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C—Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement in response to the Republican remarks on the Employee Free Choice Act.    » read more »

June 20, 2007 -- "Mr. President, I am pleased to co-sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act sponsored by Senator Kennedy. Unions helped build our country. They have led the fight for critical worker safety and worker rights protections that all Americans now enjoy. They help raise wages for low- and middle-wage workers and can help close the gap from rising income inequalities.    » read more »

Bill would protect workers’ right to organize, strengthen employer violation penalties

June 20, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today called for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would give workers the right to choose to sign up for a union that would be established once a majority opted in. The bill, of which Obama is an original co-sponsor, is expected to come up for a vote in the Senate tomorrow.

The text of the statement is below:    » read more »

June 14, 2007 -- SEATTLE — Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna won his first case before the United States Supreme Court today, persuading the Court to unanimously uphold a state initiative requiring unions to obtain prior permission from non-members before using their representation fees for political purposes.

"This is an important victory for the First Amendment rights of workers in Washington," McKenna said. "Thanks to the great team of attorneys on this case, we were able to present a persuasive argument in favor of protecting workers' political freedoms.”    » read more »

Partnership effort a first through Department of Labor’s Division of Compliance

May 10, 2007 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher today joined officials from the UAW International Union and Ford Motor Co. to sign a historic safety partnership agreement that uses cooperation as a shield against injury and illness.

Governor Fletcher said the agreement is the first of its kind between a company and the Department of Labor’s Division of Compliance, an agency that enforces Kentucky's occupational safety and health standards.    » read more »