Middle class in jeopardy because of worker rights violations

By tsuperadmin | December 11, 2005

The American middle class is in jeopardy because the right of workers to join unions is routinely being violated. That was the message at a Rochester teach-in and a Minneapolis rally to commemorate Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.

The events were part of global activities to mark the 57th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which includes the basic human right of workers to form unions and bargain collectively. Adopted by the United Nations in 1948, many of the rights and freedoms it outlines ? including the right to organize ? are routinely violated around the world.

“If we want to have a middle class for our kids and our grandkids, we need to have unions in this country,” said Russell Hess, president of the Southeast Central Labor Council.

“If we want to have a middle class for our kids and our grandkids, we need to have unions in this country,” said Russell Hess, president of the Southeast Central Labor Council, which conducted the Rochester teach-in Saturday. He provided a detailed presentation on how unions have created the middle class by raising wages and benefits, reducing inequality and poverty, decreasing discrimination and strengthening the social safety net.

“Collective bargaining isn’t just good for members, it’s good for all our communities,” Hess said. “Unions are unquestionably the most effective anti-poverty program our nation can pursue.”

A Peter Hart poll commissioned by the national AFL-CIO indicates 57 million Americans would join a union if they had the chance, but union membership has actually declined in recent years. The major reason is that employers violate the law to stop union organizing drives, a panel of labor organizers told the group attending the teach-in, which included several elected officials and political candidates.

UNITE HERE Local 21 President Dave Blanchard, SEIU organizer Bob Rouillard and IBEW Local 110 member Glenn Westing described recent cases where employers have engaged in illegal behavior to prevent workers from organizing. They said the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act are too weak to stop the violations.

In 30 percent of union campaigns, a worker is illegally fired, but he or she often must wait months and even years for justice.

“The fear factor is huge,” said Westing, who was involved in an effort to organize a non-union electrical contractor.

Panelists at the human rights teach-in included (from left) Bob Rouillard, Glenn Westing and Dave Blanchard.

At a rally and prayer service Friday at a Minneapolis church, members of the faith community joined union leaders in speaking out for human rights. Religious leaders read from various texts that said it is morally wrong to deny workers a voice.

“When employers violate the rights of workers to form unions, everyone suffers,” said Bill McCarthy, president of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council, one of the rally’s sponsors. “Unions are the best tool we have for bringing about social justice.”

Unions and other organizations are urging Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act (S. 842 and H.R. 1696). The act would require employers to recognize a union after a majority of workers sign cards authorizing union representation. It also would provide for mediation and arbitration of first-contract disputes and authorize stronger penalties for violation of the law when workers seek to form a union.