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Organized-labor leaders announced Tuesday a campaign to
spend millions to press lawmakers to pass legislation that would make it easier
for unions to organize, promising a contentious fight with business
associations. American Rights at Work, a worker advocacy group, said it
had made a $3 million ad buy to begin Thursday, to lobby for passage of the
Employee Free Choice Act. The ads will run nationwide for the next two weeks
and feature workers imploring lawmakers to pass the bill in order to improve
their economic situation.
Several high-profile leaders in the labor and civil
rights movement said the bill, which would allow workers to bypass
secret-ballot elections if a majority sign petition cards, is vital to ending
employers’ harassment and intimidation of workers. In turn, if employees can
unionize, they can negotiate for better wages and benefits, argued the
advocates.
“Restoring the middle class is key to getting our economy
back on track,” said Mary Beth Maxwell, executive director for American Rights
at Work.
Business associations, like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
said that if the bill, also known as card-check, becomes law, strikes and work
stoppages will become much more frequent, dragging down industry. The Chamber
has put together a more than $10 million campaign against the bill since the
election.
Labor has argued that while production and business
revenue has gradually increased over the past three decades, workers’ pay has
remained stagnant and they have not shared in the nation’s increasing wealth.
“To bridge this gap in inequality, we have to give people
the chance to collectively bargain with their employers,” said former Rep.
David Bonior (D-Mich.), chairman of the labor advocacy group. “This act is not
only important for union organizers but for those who are not in a union.”
Tuesday’s television ad buy is the group’s second since
the election. It also follows on the heels of last week’s announcement by the
Service Employees International Union of a new campaign for the legislation, as
well as a push for healthcare reform and the economic recovery package. SEIU
has already committed $10 million and said it planned to use 30 percent of the
union’s resources overall, estimated to be at least $50 million, for the
effort.
Labor officials said there was no specific timing on when
the bill would reach the House floor this year, though congressional leaders
are motivated to move the legislation quickly.
Bill Samuel, director of government affairs for the
AFL-CIO, said he thought “this spring” the bill would move for a House vote.
“We expect it to be in a group of bills that will address
the economy,” Samuel said.
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