The 84-10 roll-call vote in the Minnesota House took place after nearly 40 minutes of debate.
Two union members who serve in the House defended the resolution in response to attacks by some of the House\'s most conservative Republican members.
The resolution\'s author, Rep. Mike Nelson (DFL-46A) and a Carpenters Union member, told the House that the current system of National Labor Relations Board elections to determine union recognition "is broken because of the amount of [employer] intimidation."
"This is all about allowing everyone the freedom to join the union of their choice without the intimidation that¹s going on," Nelson told the House.
The Employee Free Choice Act would provide for union recognition once a majority of workers in a workplace sign union authorization cards. Under current law, the employer can refuse to recognize the cards and insist on an
NLRB election.
In the run-up to a NLRB election, Nelson said, employers who oppose unions subject workers to captive audience meetings, intimidation, threats to their jobs, and threats to close their business.
"We\'ve seen an attack both on organized workers and workers who desire to be organized," said Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL-3A), former legislative coordinator for the Laborers Union District Council of Minnesota and North Dakota. "Let workers be heard. Let workers have a voice."
"Collective bargaining and unions are still one of the best ways to help people move up from poverty to enter the middle class," Nelson said.
The Minnesota House vote urging Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act follows passage of a similar resolution in the Minnesota Senate last year.
"It\'s a step toward pushing Congress further to give strength to workers to organize in their workplaces,² said Jennifer Schaubach, legislative director for the Minnesota AFL-CIO."
Rep. Nelson noted on the House floor that today\'s vote came on May 1 -- May Day -- observed worldwide as International Workers Day to celebrate the social and economic gains of the labor movement.
Union representatives gathered outside the chambers of the Minnesota House
of Representatives today just before the House voted to pass a resolution
backing the Employee Free Choice Act.
Steve Share, is the editor of the Minneapolis Labor Review
Share
The 84-10 roll-call vote in the Minnesota House took place after nearly 40 minutes of debate.
Two union members who serve in the House defended the resolution in response to attacks by some of the House\’s most conservative Republican members.
The resolution\’s author, Rep. Mike Nelson (DFL-46A) and a Carpenters Union member, told the House that the current system of National Labor Relations Board elections to determine union recognition "is broken because of the amount of [employer] intimidation."
"This is all about allowing everyone the freedom to join the union of their choice without the intimidation that¹s going on," Nelson told the House.
The Employee Free Choice Act would provide for union recognition once a majority of workers in a workplace sign union authorization cards. Under current law, the employer can refuse to recognize the cards and insist on an
NLRB election.
In the run-up to a NLRB election, Nelson said, employers who oppose unions subject workers to captive audience meetings, intimidation, threats to their jobs, and threats to close their business.
"We\’ve seen an attack both on organized workers and workers who desire to be organized," said Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL-3A), former legislative coordinator for the Laborers Union District Council of Minnesota and North Dakota. "Let workers be heard. Let workers have a voice."
"Collective bargaining and unions are still one of the best ways to help people move up from poverty to enter the middle class," Nelson said.
The Minnesota House vote urging Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act follows passage of a similar resolution in the Minnesota Senate last year.
"It\’s a step toward pushing Congress further to give strength to workers to organize in their workplaces,² said Jennifer Schaubach, legislative director for the Minnesota AFL-CIO."
Rep. Nelson noted on the House floor that today\’s vote came on May 1 — May Day — observed worldwide as International Workers Day to celebrate the social and economic gains of the labor movement.
Union representatives gathered outside the chambers of the Minnesota House
of Representatives today just before the House voted to pass a resolution
backing the Employee Free Choice Act.
of Representatives today just before the House voted to pass a resolution
backing the Employee Free Choice Act.
Steve Share, is the editor of the Minneapolis Labor Review