Future of U.S. Labor Movement Hinges on Passage of EFCA

In a strongly-worded resolution the Conference cited the persistent shortcomings of current labor law and documented instances of harassment, intimidation and firing of union supporters involved in organizing drives. The resolution charged that the Wagner Act, which was passed in 1934 and characterized as “Labor’s Magna Carta” at the time, has “been perverted to the extent that it now erects more barriers to union representations than opportunities.”

The resolution cited the absence of any “effective means of protecting the right of workers to choose representation without em­ployer interference.” It asserted that current law imposes “no effective remedies or punishments for violations and provides no just means to require employers to negotiate in good faith for a first contract.”

The resolution notes that the overwhelming majority of Ameri­cans support “strong legislation that would protect the rights of workers to secure union representation” and that organizing a union is often undertaken at the “risk of losing ones job.”
In its report to the conference, the Sector’s Laws and Finance Com­mittee commented that “nothing less than the future of the labor move­ment depends upon the passage of this law.”

The CWA Convention en­acted an equally forceful call for passage, and delegates participated in more than 200 meetings with lawmakers in the two-day legislative conference that followed the CWA Convention. CWA activists called on wavering members of the Senate to join with the majority and vote to cut off a threatened Republican filibuster of the measure.

A PPMWS Conference Resolution calls for passage of EFCA. Members are urged to contact lawmakers and press for support.