Employee Free Choice Act is essential for middle class

TO THE EDITOR:

While our new president and Congress try to find a remedy for Wall Street working families are looking for a way to bring a sense of balance back to the workplace.

No matter how well our leaders craft an economic recovery package it will amount to little if working people don't have a voice on the job. The power to bargain collectively is the surest way to secure livable wages quality health care and a stable retirement.

But when workers try to form a union they are routinely harassed and intimidated by their bosses. Current labor law is powerless to help them.

That's why President Obama has pledged to sign the Employee Free Choice Act — legislation that would restore the right of workers to decide how to form a union. Workers not their bosses would have the power to choose to either collect a simple majority of signed authorization cards or go through a lengthier balloting process.

More importantly this legislation will usher in a new era of democracy in the workplace.

With a seat at the table workers will have the power to improve their own lives and rebuild our nation's middle class.


Judith Blau
Sociology professor