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cal04

(41,505 posts)
Tue Oct 6, 2015, 03:46 PM Oct 2015

Bernie Sanders proposes sweeping labor law reforms.Sanders, Pocan Introduce Legislation

Bill by labor-friendly members of Congress would simplify the voting process for forming a union
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/10/6/bernie-sanders-proposes-labor-law-reforms.html

Progressive legislators introduced a law on Tuesday that would speed up the process for forming labor unions and penalize companies that delay negotiating with newly formed unions — as labor allies in Congress try to preserve some of the gains they have made during President Barack Obama's second term.

The Workplace Democracy Act, sponsored by Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, and Rep. Mark Pocan, a Wisconsin Democrat, would eliminate the two-stage balloting process for union election, a move that labor advocates say will make it easier for workers to form unions.

Under current law, employees in a given workplace can trigger an election if at least 30 percent of them sign union authorization cards. After those cards are signed, workers must obtain a majority vote in favor of the union in a second process to get the union certified. The Sanders proposal would eliminate the ballot and lead to union certification if a majority of workers sign cards.

"If we are serious about reducing income and wealth inequality and rebuilding the middle class, we have got to substantially increase the number of union jobs in this country," Sanders said.




https://twitter.com/repmarkpocan

“The Workplace Democracy Act strengthens the middle class by restoring workers' rights to bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions,” said Rep. Pocan. “One of the root causes of declining wages is that workers’ ability to join together and bargain for higher wages and better working conditions has been has been severely undermined. This bill would make it easier for workers to have a voice in the workplace, providing a bigger paycheck to middle class families trying to pay the mortgage and find a way to send their kids to college.”

“Millions of Americans who want to join unions are unable to do so because of the coercive and often illegal behavior of their employers,” Sen. Sanders said. “The benefits of joining a union are clear: higher wages, better benefits and a more secure retirement. If we are serious about reducing income and wealth inequality and rebuilding the middle class, we have got to substantially increase the number of union jobs in this country.”

The Workplace Democracy Act will make it easier for workers to join a union by allowing the National Labor Relations Board to certify a union if a simple majority of eligible workers sign valid authorization cards. The bill also requires companies to begin negotiating within 10 days after certification. If no first contract is reached after 90 days, either party can request compulsory mediation. After 30 days of mediation, the parties will submit the remaining issues to binding arbitration.

Joining Sanders and Pocan at the news conference outside the Capitol were workers who have faced retaliation for trying to organize their fellow workers. “Working moms shouldn’t have to strike and face threats just to join a union,” said Kellie Duckett, a federal contract worker at the U.S. Capitol. “We should be able sign up for the union just like we sign up for the PTA.”

“I’m here to say that current labor laws don’t protect workers,” Mayra Tito, a federal contract worker, added. “I should know – I was fired from the Pentagon Starbucks after I went on strike for $15 and a union. That’s why we need the Workplace Democracy Act.”

“I was fired for speaking out in my workplace to improve patient care conditions by organizing a union,” Allysha Almad, a registered nurse from Pasadena, said. “My case is not unique. There are thousands of nurses and other workers who face retaliation when they try to raise their voices collectively to address unsafe condition – conditions that in hospitals and other workplaces actually endanger lives."

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released earlier this year, union workers’ wages are 27 percent greater than for non-union workers. Seventy-nine percent of unionized workers receive health insurance from their employers, compared to only 49 percent of non-union workers. Seventy-six percent of union workers have guaranteed defined-benefit pension plans, compared to only 16 percent of non-union workers. Eighty-three percent of union workers receive paid with sick leave compared to only 62 percent of non-union workers.

The bill is cosponsored in the House by Reps. Rosa DeLauro, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Cheri Bustos, John Conyers, Matt Cartwright, Marcy Kaptur, Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, Mark Takano, Don Norcross, Charlie Rangel, Raul Grijalva, Judy Chu, Marcia Fudge, Janice Hahn and in the Senate by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).

Click here to read a summary of the bill.
Sanders, Pocan Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Workers’ Rights
http://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sanders-pocan-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-workers-rights
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Bernie Sanders proposes sweeping labor law reforms.Sanders, Pocan Introduce Legislation (Original Post) cal04 Oct 2015 OP
I like it Half-Century Man Oct 2015 #1
K & R! beam me up scottie Oct 2015 #2
Excellent, he's got lots of co-sponsors too. sabrina 1 Oct 2015 #3
Bernie knows exactly what he's talking about. senz Oct 2015 #4

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
3. Excellent, he's got lots of co-sponsors too.
Tue Oct 6, 2015, 07:11 PM
Oct 2015

Now we'll see who is working for the people, and who is not.

 

senz

(11,945 posts)
4. Bernie knows exactly what he's talking about.
Tue Oct 6, 2015, 08:20 PM
Oct 2015

The strong middle class of the mid-20th century was built on strong unions. Reagan busted labor unions and the middle class grew smaller and weaker as a result.

I love the fact that poc are solidly with Bernie on this. They can see who is their true friend and who isn't.

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