Wednesday, October 01, 2008

UAW members help anti-worker groups show their true colors

The Catawba County Chamber of Commerce in North Carolina was set for an outdoor rally recently, ready to knock the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and other pro-worker legislation.

They recently lined up a list of North Carolina lawmakers who have done no favors for working Americans: Sen. Elizabeth Dole and U.S. Representatives such as Sue Myrick, Robin Hayes, Patrick McHenry and Virginia Foxx, all Republicans. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other anti-union groups were there, too.

The local chamber arrogantly thought it could slam workers and their families and not have anyone say a peep. Not so. UAW members and their families from locals in North Carolina, as well as the state AFL-CIO and other unions, were on hand to correct any misinformation that was being put out.

Photos by Will Davis, UAW Local 5285

UAW members were among the union members in North Carolina who rallied to support the Employee Free Choice Act.

Ten minutes into the rally, hundreds of union members, including members from UAW locals 5285 (Mt. Holly), 5286 (Gastonia), 5287 (High Point) and 3520 (Cleveland) showed up. That didn't sit well with the anti-union lawyer and others slated to speak.

"They didn't know we were coming," said Local 5285 President Bob Riggins, who said union members peacefully approached the news conference and respectfully listened, even as one anti-union lawyer had the gall to say, "We want you to know this is not an anti-union rally."

It actually turned into a pro-union rally as the stammering anti-union groups and lawmakers decided they were not going to put out their phony claims about EFCA in front of people who know better. They moved the rally indoors and required photo identification -- and a business card -- to get inside.

That tells you all you really need to know about opponents of EFCA.

The proposed act, which Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama supports and John McCain opposes, would give workers more freedom to join unions through a tried-and-tested procedure known as card check. It allows a simple majority of workers to indicate they want a union and they get one. Workers, not companies, decide whether they want a card-check procedure or a secret ballot election.

The Employee Free Choice Act would allow workers to decide on a card-check procedure or a secret ballot election.

Some 30 percent of employers illegally fire workers who try to form unions. If workers do win a union, companies often stall on a first contract as long as they can. EFCA would restore balance between business and workers.

"North Carolina workers are standing up for their rights, and it's time for Congress and the president to stand with them," said MaryBe McMillian, secretary-treasurer of the North Carolina AFL-CIO after the anti-union groups called it a day. "For too long, workers who wanted union representation have been threatened for exercising their rights. The Employee Free Choice Act takes that power away from corporate America and lets workers freely choose whether and how they want to form a union."

Union members went back to the AFL-CIO headquarters and held a Workers' Roundtable about card check and other pro-working family measures. Included in the audience were members of the local business community who genuinely wanted to learn all sides of the issue.

Jim Logan, who owns the American Income Life agency in Matthews, N.C., said at the roundtable EFCA makes good business sense.

"Unions strengthen our communities, and that actually helps businesses like mine because families who earn decent wages have stronger buying power --and that means they can afford to buy products like mine to protect their families."

Will Davis of UAW Local 5285 contributed to this report.