- Sen. Bernie Sanders
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Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
October 6, 2015
“Millions of Americans who want to join unions are unable to do so because of the coercive and often illegal behavior of their employers,” Sanders said. “The benefits of joining a union are clear: higher wages, better benefits and a more secure retirement. If we are serious about reducing income and wealth inequality and rebuilding the middle class, we have got to substantially increase the number of union jobs in this country.
The Workplace Democracy Act will make it easier for workers to join a union by allowing the National Labor Relations Board to certify a union if a simple majority of eligible workers sign valid authorization cards. The bill also requires companies to begin negotiating within 10 days after certification. If no first contract is reached after 90 days, either party can request compulsory mediation. After 30 days of mediation, the parties will submit the remaining issues to binding arbitration.
“The Workplace Democracy Act strengthens the middle class by restoring workers' rights to bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions,” said Pocan. “One of the root causes of declining wages is that workers’ ability to join together and bargain for higher wages and better working conditions has been has been severely undermined. This bill would make it easier for workers to have a voice in the workplace, providing a bigger paycheck to middle class families trying to pay the mortgage and find a way to send their kids to college.”
Joining Sanders and Pocan at the news conference outside the Capitol were workers who have faced retaliation for trying to organize their fellow workers. “Working moms shouldn’t have to strike and face threats just to join a union,” said Kellie Duckett, a federal contract worker at the U.S. Capitol. We should be able sign up for the union just like we sign up for the PTA.”
“I’m here to say that current labor laws don’t protect workers,” Mayra Tito, a federal contract worker, added. “I should know – I was fired from the Pentagon Starbucks after I went on strike for $15 and a union. That’s why we need the Workplace Democracy Act.”
“I was fired for speaking out in my workplace to improve patient care conditions by organizing a union,” Allysha Almad, a registered nurse from Pasadena, said. “My case is not unique. There are thousands of nurses and other workers who face retaliation when they try to raise their voices collectively to address unsafe condition – conditions that in hospitals and other workplaces actually endanger lives."
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released earlier this year, union workers’ wages are 27 percent greater than for non-union workers. Seventy-nine percent of unionized workers receive health insurance from their employers, compared to only 49 percent of non-union workers. Seventy-six percent of union workers have guaranteed defined-benefit pension plans, compared to only 16 percent of non-union workers. Eighty-three percent of union workers receive paid with sick leave compared to only 62 percent of non-union workers.
The bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).
Click here to read the bill.
Click here to read a summary of the bill.
Click here to read Sanders’ prepared remarks.
Contact: Michael Briggs
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
October 6, 2015
Sanders,
Pocan
Introduce
Legislation
to Strengthen Workers’ Rights
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Mark Pocan
(D-Wis.) introduced legislation today that would make it easier for
workers to join unions and bargain for better wages, benefits and
working conditions.
“Millions of Americans who want to join unions are unable to do so because of the coercive and often illegal behavior of their employers,” Sanders said. “The benefits of joining a union are clear: higher wages, better benefits and a more secure retirement. If we are serious about reducing income and wealth inequality and rebuilding the middle class, we have got to substantially increase the number of union jobs in this country.
The Workplace Democracy Act will make it easier for workers to join a union by allowing the National Labor Relations Board to certify a union if a simple majority of eligible workers sign valid authorization cards. The bill also requires companies to begin negotiating within 10 days after certification. If no first contract is reached after 90 days, either party can request compulsory mediation. After 30 days of mediation, the parties will submit the remaining issues to binding arbitration.
“The Workplace Democracy Act strengthens the middle class by restoring workers' rights to bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions,” said Pocan. “One of the root causes of declining wages is that workers’ ability to join together and bargain for higher wages and better working conditions has been has been severely undermined. This bill would make it easier for workers to have a voice in the workplace, providing a bigger paycheck to middle class families trying to pay the mortgage and find a way to send their kids to college.”
Joining Sanders and Pocan at the news conference outside the Capitol were workers who have faced retaliation for trying to organize their fellow workers. “Working moms shouldn’t have to strike and face threats just to join a union,” said Kellie Duckett, a federal contract worker at the U.S. Capitol. We should be able sign up for the union just like we sign up for the PTA.”
“I’m here to say that current labor laws don’t protect workers,” Mayra Tito, a federal contract worker, added. “I should know – I was fired from the Pentagon Starbucks after I went on strike for $15 and a union. That’s why we need the Workplace Democracy Act.”
“I was fired for speaking out in my workplace to improve patient care conditions by organizing a union,” Allysha Almad, a registered nurse from Pasadena, said. “My case is not unique. There are thousands of nurses and other workers who face retaliation when they try to raise their voices collectively to address unsafe condition – conditions that in hospitals and other workplaces actually endanger lives."
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released earlier this year, union workers’ wages are 27 percent greater than for non-union workers. Seventy-nine percent of unionized workers receive health insurance from their employers, compared to only 49 percent of non-union workers. Seventy-six percent of union workers have guaranteed defined-benefit pension plans, compared to only 16 percent of non-union workers. Eighty-three percent of union workers receive paid with sick leave compared to only 62 percent of non-union workers.
The bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).
Click here to read the bill.
Click here to read a summary of the bill.
Click here to read Sanders’ prepared remarks.
Contact: Michael Briggs
Workplace Democracy Act
Senator Bernard Sanders (I-VT)/Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI)In order to strengthen America's middle
class, we have to restore workers' rights to bargain for better
wages, benefits, and working conditions. That is the goal of the
Workplace Democracy Act.
There is no doubt that union membership is good for workers. According to data released in early 2015 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, union workers’ wages are 27 percent higher than for nonunion workers. 79 percent of unionized workers receive health insurance from their employers, compared to only 49 percent of nonunion workers. 76 percent of union workers have guaranteed defined-benefit pension plans, compared to only 16 percent of nonunion workers, and 83 percent of union workers receive paid with sick leave compared to only 62 percent of nonunion workers.
Today, corporate profits are at an all-time high, while wages as a percentage of the economy are near an all-time low. The middle class is disappearing, nearly 47 million Americans are living in poverty, and the gap between the very rich and everyone else is growing wider and wider.
There are many reasons for the growing inequality in our economy, but perhaps the most significant reason for the disappearing middle class is that the rights of workers to join together and bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions have been severely undermined. According to the most recent statistics:
There is no doubt that union membership is good for workers. According to data released in early 2015 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, union workers’ wages are 27 percent higher than for nonunion workers. 79 percent of unionized workers receive health insurance from their employers, compared to only 49 percent of nonunion workers. 76 percent of union workers have guaranteed defined-benefit pension plans, compared to only 16 percent of nonunion workers, and 83 percent of union workers receive paid with sick leave compared to only 62 percent of nonunion workers.
Today, corporate profits are at an all-time high, while wages as a percentage of the economy are near an all-time low. The middle class is disappearing, nearly 47 million Americans are living in poverty, and the gap between the very rich and everyone else is growing wider and wider.
There are many reasons for the growing inequality in our economy, but perhaps the most significant reason for the disappearing middle class is that the rights of workers to join together and bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions have been severely undermined. According to the most recent statistics:
- If an employee is engaged in a union organizing campaign, that employee has a one in five chance of getting fired.
- Half of all employers threaten to close or relocate their businesses if workers elect to form a union.
- When workers become interested in forming unions, 92 percent of private-sector employers force employees to attend closed-door meetings to hear anti-union propaganda; 80 percent require supervisors to attend training sessions on attacking unions; 78 percent require that supervisors deliver anti-union messages to workers they oversee; and 75 percent hire outside consultants to run anti-union campaigns.
- Even when workers overcome these enormous obstacles and
win union elections, 52 percent of
these new unions still do not have a first contract for workers a year
after the election, according
to the Economic Policy Institute.
The Workplace Democracy Act would:
1. Make it easier for workers to form unions through a majority sign up process. This section would allow the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to certify a union as the collective bargaining representative if a majority of eligible workers join sign valid authorization cards and the NLRB verifies that majority. Workers will get to elect which process to use to form unions, rather than allowing employers to dictate the course of action.
2. Ensure companies can’t prevent a union from forming by denying a first contract. This section would require an employer to begin negotiating within 10 days after certification. If no agreement is reached after 90 days of negotiation, either party can request compulsory mediation. If no first contract is reached after 30 more days of mediation, the parties would submit the remaining issues to binding arbitration.
1. Make it easier for workers to form unions through a majority sign up process. This section would allow the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to certify a union as the collective bargaining representative if a majority of eligible workers join sign valid authorization cards and the NLRB verifies that majority. Workers will get to elect which process to use to form unions, rather than allowing employers to dictate the course of action.
2. Ensure companies can’t prevent a union from forming by denying a first contract. This section would require an employer to begin negotiating within 10 days after certification. If no agreement is reached after 90 days of negotiation, either party can request compulsory mediation. If no first contract is reached after 30 more days of mediation, the parties would submit the remaining issues to binding arbitration.
Copyright © 2015 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in
Action.
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