Casey: Bill Protecting Worker Rights More Necessary
in Recession
March 10, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC- Following a Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions hearing today on
Rebuilding Economic Security: Empowering Workers to
Restore the Middle Class, U.S. Senator Bob Casey
(D-PA) released the following statement:
“In my
judgment, it is
appropriate at this hearing to
discuss the Employee Free Choice Act, but also the
trauma that the American family is living through in
this recession. We need to talk about helping to
provide economic security for families who don’t
have it. One of the best ways to ensure economic
security for workers and their families is for that
worker to be a member of a union.
“The other side has done a good job
of making their arguments. I give them credit for
their political skill -- even if their arguments are
not always accurate.
“What you don’t hear is that the
Employee Free Choice Act actually gives workers two
different ways to choose whether to form a union:
through an election process or through majority sign
up. The choice is up to the workers.
“I’m a Pennsylvanian. We have had a
lot of tough years seeing people trampled by
corporate power. These troubles marred the last
century, but we still have problems today. I have
seen anti-union intimidation when firms were brought
in to discourage organizing by health care workers.
This bill will help preserve the rights of workers.
“Contrary to the rhetoric from the
other side, the Employee Free Choice Act does not
abolish the secret ballot election process. A
secret ballot would still be available. If workers
prefer to use majority sign up, they could do that
as well.
“We know from our history that if
people collectively bargain and organize for wages
and benefits, it is not only good for the workers
and their families, but it is also good for the U.S.
economy. One of the reasons why we have a strong
middle class is because we have had unions that have
helped build that middle class.
“Allowing people to organize and
bargain for their rights and benefits is not just a
labor issue; it is an issue of economic justice.
“St. Augustine said, ‘Without
justice, what are kingdoms but great bands of
robbers?’
“This bill can help in the pursuit of
economic justice. If we don’t pursue justice, we
will be nothing but a band of robbers.”
###
Press Contact
Larry Smar - (202) 228-636
|
