Workers Interfaith Network is gearing up to work with others in the community to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, or EFCA. EFCA would make it easier for workers who want to work collectively to improve their workplaces to form unions. The legislation would also make it harder for employers to engage in hardball tactics meant to intimidate workers who want to organize. Unfortunately, the US Chamber of Commerce, Wal Mart, and other powerful corporate interests are trying to keep EFCA from becoming law. They plan to work hard to block EFCA. But we plan to work harder in the religious community. To learn more about EFCA and how you can get involved,

At their best, unions are a concrete tool for developing democracy and power among workers. They have allowed many workers to move from poverty to the middle class. They protect many workers from unsafe and inhumane work environments. And they give workers a chance to share their expertise and wisdom in creating a better workplace.

Unfortunately, too many employers make it too difficult for workers to form a union. An employer can voluntarily begin negotiating with workers when they come forward to say they want a union. Few if any employers take that path, though. Instead, they call for an “election” supervised by the National Labor Relations Board.

Unfortunately, these “elections” are unlike anything we would tolerate in our democracy. Over 90% of employers hire outside consulting firms to advise them when workers decide to come together to make things better at work. These firms often encourage employers to use unethical and sometimes illegal tactics to keep workers from organizing. Workers who support organizing are sometimes fired, even though it’s illegal. Some workers have their work hours changed. Employers call captive audience meetings and require workers to listen to anti-union speakers. Some workers are called into private meetings with multiple managers who use fear and misinformation to persuade workers to vote against forming a union.

In the meantime, employers frequently ban anyone working for a union from speaking to workers about the advantages available to workers who come together to organize. Imagine a political campaign where one party could run commercials all day and all night for no cost while the opposing party was banned from even mailing out a postcard!

EFCA would allow workers to decide how they would make the decision to form a union. Workers who want to use the existing NLRB election process could still do so. Other workers could choose to use a “card check” process that prevents employers from using strongarm tactics and involves asking workers to sign cards indicating that they want to form a union. When a simple majority of workers fill out cards, employers would have to begin negotiation with workers over wages, benefits, and working conditions.

WIN will be developing materials for you to use in your congregation to help make the Employee Free Choice Act a reality. If you want to use these resources to make life easier for workers in our community, email matt@workersinterfaith.org or caitlin@workersinterfaith.org