| March 4, 2011
While most of the media’s and the country’s attention has been focused on widespread labor protests in states like Wisconsin and Ohio, airline industry lobbyists have been busy in Washington lining up Congressional votes to decimate recently adopted rules that have finally made union representation elections fair for airline and rail employees.
These are private sector employees, not the unfairly demonized public employees, who supposedly have it
“cushier” than the rest of us. The simple fact is that all of them are defending the right to be able to come together to collectively and fairly bargain with management about wages, working conditions and benefits like health care and pensions. There is no moral justification for denying people who are actually working the basic things that contribute to middle class and family stability. They are doing their part to make our country strong.
“Collective bargaining” is the lifeblood of unions. It can’t occur without organizing and holding an election among the employees. Employees simply vote to determine if they want to form or join a union. If they vote for it, it is easier for them to speak in one voice—in solidarity for fair treatment in the workplace. Sometimes they actually vote “no.” But whatever the decision, it has to be by a fair election. This video illustrates the egregious practices before the new rules. We can’t afford to go back.
After four years as Ohio’s Secretary of State and fending off a barrage of GOP charges of “voter fraud,” I find it ironic that Congressional House Transportation Chairman John Mica (R-FL) and others are pushing for union elections that count no-shows as “no” votes. (Coincidentally, he’s a major beneficiary of more than $620,000 in airline industry contributions.)
Fair elections for union representation can be protected by the Senate if Senators and the administration are willing to stand up and kill the amendment in the reconciliation process between the two houses of Congress, even if it means voting down the entire FAA reauthorization bill to keep fair elections for airline and rail workers. We need your help.
When people stand up to big money and lies, people win—every time. It just takes enough of us.
It’s time to take a stand. All you have to do is write. You’re reading this—you email—so take it a step further and email our U.S. Senators. You can find their email addresses here. You can even write to your local paper or news outlet. Every voice matters. Together we’re stronger.
We owe it to each other to stand together. Please take a moment now and write the President and members of the U.S. Senate. Make your voice heard at home.
Thank you for all you do.
Jennifer Brunner
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