Talk-Radio Show Host Jackie Guerra's Op-Ed piece on worker's rights.
An Op-Ed piece by JACKIE GUERRA, host of the talk-radio show, Workin’ It (www.americanrightsatwork.org/workinit)
Restoring Democracy the Same Wat You Eat Tortillas: One by One
When does someone ever hand you what you deserve? Never! Every single worker in this great country of ours deserves the best that we have to offer: opportunity, dignity, respect and the ability to provide for themselves and their families. That, mis amigos, is the heart of the American Dream. But, the dream is far from reality for workers who want to form unions.
Today, workers are united to take back their economic opportunity. Nurses are committed to creating a better environment for their patients. Janitors are determined to be able to send their kids to good schools. And teachers understand that their working conditions are our children’s learning conditions. These workers, and so many more, are joining together to form unions.
Unfortunately, when workers come together to form unions, they find the process is not as democratic as it should be. Every 23 minutes a worker is illegally fired or punished for supporting a union, according to workers’ rights organization American Rights at Work (www.americanrightsatwork.org). Why? One reason is that anti-union employers feel empowered by the current administration to abuse employees who strive for safe working conditions and a living wage. That’s right, the same folks who brought us a former Wal-Mart attorney to oversee the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division and a management attorney to head up the National Labor Relations Board are part of (surprise!) the most anti-worker administration in our nation’s history. Anti-union employers have effectively waged war against America’s workers. They know they can get away with it because the agency set up to protect workers, the National Labor Relations Board, isn’t fulfilling its duty.
But help is on the way, my hardworking sisters and brothers. The Employee Free Choice Act (www.americanrightsatwork.org/takeaction/efca) is hitting Congress! U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao was absent at the February 6 press conference announcing the introduction of the bill (HR800), but she did muster the energy to release a statement of opposition calling America’s workers a “special interest group” You can run but you can’t hide, Elaine Chao! The Employee Free Choice Act will level the playing field and will make a huge difference in the lives of people who want to form unions. I’ve talked to so many people on my show that have been fired or denied promotions, just because they want a voice on the job.
Click here to read more about the Employee Free Choice Act!
