The Employee Free Choice Act will be completely useless for workers in twenty-eight states having “at-will hiring, at-will firing” legislation on their books.
“At-will hiring, at-will firing” is the main and primary impediment to union organizing in this country and we don’t hear one peep from the union leaderships on this problem.
What will the AFL-CIO and Change To Win propose Democrats do to rescind “at-will hiring, at-will firing” legislation in these twenty-eight states which include Minnesota and Michigan?
I have posed this question time, and time again, to state and federal legislators, Mr. Sweeney and Mr. Stern--- and the “progressive media,” including In These Times through comments and e-mails to the editors to no avail, which makes me wonder if there are many people who see politics as more of a game than a struggle to create a better life for working people.
Furthermore, given the nearly unanimous silence on the part of U.S. unions--- including the AFL-CIO and CTW--- while labor all over the world condemned Israel’s destructive pogrom and killing spree against the Palestinians in Gaza, one has to wonder if the Democratic Party is not playing working people for suckers and fools in using the Employee Free Choice Act as a club over the heads of organized labor: keep your mouths shut about everything else and “be good little boys and girls” and we might consider giving you a bone: EFCA.
That unions in this country have bought into imperialism in this way is contemptible and despicable and most likely has more to do with the failure of AFL-CIO & CTW unions being unable to organize beyond their present 11% of the workers in this country than any anti-labor legislation or lack there of. Although, the failure to protect the jobs of the workers they already collect dues from probably has a great deal to do with the disgraceful state of organized labor in this country, too.
“Getting ready to rumble?” More like running away from the class struggle with Barack Obama and the Democrats.
We need the Employee Free Choice Act; but, is the cost too high?
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
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