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LATEST LETTERS

Employee Free Choice Act

Wednesday, May 9 at 1:59 PM

Courtney R. Gross of 9to5 Colorado writes:

Letter writer Mark M. Latimer’s characterization of the Employee Free Choice Act is plain wrong (“Dems, labor gang up on the little guy,” April 10). This new federal legislation would protect workers’ choice to bargain with their employers for better workplace conditions.
Working people in Colorado are finding it harder to make ends meet. Health-care costs are out of control and personal debt is skyrocketing.
For decades, unions have helped workers and their families gain economic stability. (Women who belong to unions, for example, earn 30 percent more than those who don’t and are much more likely to have employer-provided health and retirement benefits.)
Unfortunately, too few ever get that chance. Every day, corporations deny employees the freedom to decide for themselves whether to form unions. One out of five union activists is likely to be fired when trying to form a union, according to a new study by the Center for Economic Policy Research.
The Employee Free Choice Act wouldn’t eliminate union elections. If workers want an election, they can still have one. It simply puts the choice on how to elect a union — by card or ballot — into workers’ hands, not employers’. The U.S. Senate should join the House in passing the Employee Free Choice Act.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

What about my choice and freedomg to be able to work at a company without being forced to join a union? Why should I HAVE to be union in order to work? Where is my freedomg there?

Posted by Nick on May 9, 2007 06:54 PM

I agree with Nick...most unions these days just take your money, and give you nothing in return.

Posted by my name 2 on May 10, 2007 01:25 PM

My husband is The Carpenter's Union. We have good health care,vested pension,eye care, dental,death benefits,and a growing annuity.Do you make $70,000 a year plus get all these benefits from your employer?

Posted by Carpenter's Wife on May 11, 2007 01:34 PM