A rally was held Wednesday outside the San Francisco Federal Building
to urge Senator Dianne Feinstein’s support of the Employee Free Choice Act.
Photos by Luke Thomas
By Fanny Dassie
May 8, 2009
Bay Area workers and community members, supported by the California Labor Federation, held a rally Wednesday outside the San Francisco Federal Building in support of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and to urge Senator Dianne Feinstein and Washington DC lawmakers to pass the legislation.
“This is the most important legislation for working men and women of America since the Wagner Act was passed in the 1930s,” said San Francisco Labor Council Executive Director Tim Paulson. “It allows workers to choose whether or not they join the unions and not let the employers run the process.”
If enacted, EFCA would enable working people to bargain for better benefits, wages and working conditions by restoring workers’ freedom to join, or form unions. It would also remove existing obstacles to employees who want collective bargaining, and would require employers to recognize a union as soon as a majority of employees signed cards supporting unionization.
Passed by the House but rejected by Senate in 2007, the bill was reintroduced in March. For the Senate to proceed to a re-vote, at least 60 senators have to agree to invoke cloture, a process that aims at preventing a filibuster.
To reach a filibuster-proof 60 votes in the Senate, the bill would need the support from all 57 Democrats, the two independents – Senators Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman – and at least one other senator.
Paulson said he is confident the House will pass the law and hopes the Senate will do the same. He also explained that under the current system, “One out of four workers who try to join the union in a campaign are fired, and there is absolutely no repercussion whatsoever,” adding that employers use intimidation to discourage worker organizing.
Tim Paulson
San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly, who supports the passage of act, said workers have more bargaining power when unionized.
“When working people and everyday people are organized together, they are stronger, they can stand up to the corporate forces and special interests that, unfortunately, usually have more to say in the decisions that affect peoples’ lives,” he said.
Supervisor Chris Daly
Feinstein, a past co-sponsor of EFCA, has yet to support the bill. She is said to be aligned with corporate interests and has expressed concern the legislation would make the economy worse.
“This is an extraordinarily difficult economy and feelings are very strong on both sides of the issue,” Feinstein said in a statement provided to FCJ by her spokesperson, Gil Duran. “I would hope there is some way to find common ground that would be agreeable to both business and labor.”
Reactions to Feinstein’s stated position was swift.
California Labor Federation Communications Director Steve Smith said, “This act is a critical component of rebuilding the middle class,” adding that he is “perplexed” that Feinstein does not support the bill given that President Obama and economists have said the legislation would help a boost a struggling economy.
“The campaign is still continuing,” Paulson said, pointing out the numerous calls and the tens of thousands of letters sent to Feinstein’s office. “We just continue to ramp up the pressure. There is no excuse for EFCA not to be passed.”
Luke Thomas contributed to this report.
 
 
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