Russell Hess, Political Coordinator for the Laborers District Council of MN & ND, sent us this statement praising Senator Klobuchar and Congressman Walz for supporting the EFCA:
Southeast Minnesota Labor Leaders Applaud co-sponsors of the Employee Free Choice Act Congressman Walz and Senator Klobuchar
Southeast Minnesota labor leaders and union members expressed excitement over the introduction of the Employee Free Choice Act today in the United States Senate and House of Representatives. The legislation would strengthen the middle class by giving workers the right to choose how they form a union. “Corporations and their CEOs have been attacking the retirement security, health care, wages and worksite safety of the middle class for years. Enacting the Employee Free Choice Act will be the first step towards leveling the playing field between the average worker and corporate CEOs,” said Russell Hess, Secretary-Treasurer of the Southeast Minnesota Area Labor Council.
Local unions see the Employee Free Choice Act as an important part of the country’s economic recovery. The latest employment statistics show that union members are fifty-two percent more likely to have employer provided health insurance than non-union workers. They are also nearly three times as likely to have a guaranteed (defined benefit) pension plan. Finally, union workers’ median weekly earnings are twenty-eight percent higher than non-union workers and studies show that union workers are more productive than non-union ones. “The numbers don’t lie,” said Al Stork, who represents nearly 1000 electrical workers in southeast Minnesota, “When workers have a voice in the workplace they do better and the companies they work for do better.”
Laura Askelin, President of the Southeast Minnesota Area Labor Council praised Congressman Tim Walz and Senator Amy Klobuchar for being co-sponsoring the Employee Free Choice Act. “By co-sponsoring the Employee Free Choice Act, Senator Klobuchar and Congressman Walz have again demonstrated their commitment to the best interest of working families in southeast Minnesota. We look forward to working with them to make sure it becomes law.”
For more information, go to www.employeefreechoice.org
Photo: SE MN Labor Council President Laura Askelin (left) and her AFSCME sister Audra Waylett (right) at the Minnesota State Fair. This definitely isn't my father's union movement. Guess Audra got the bill's introduction for an early birthday present.
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