The Employee Free Choice Act: How It Can Help Wal-Mart Workers

 “...For Wal-Mart, in the short term, and in the longer term on a relative basis with our peers, we’re going to run this business,” Scott said. He continued, "We like driving the car and we’re not going to give the steering wheel to anybody but us."

                                           -- Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott, on EFCA    

In an ideal world, Wal-Mart would treat its employees fairly and pay them an honest living wage without needing to be pushed. But this isn't an ideal world - and after watching Wal-Mart refuse to change for years, we now know that the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is the game-changer we need to start rebuilding America's middle class and help Wal-Mart workers live better.  

The Employee Free Choice Act is a law that would make it simpler and easier for workers at Wal-Mart, or any other company, to join together and form a union if they so choose.

Under current law, employers have virtually all the power over the employees. In order to form a union half of employees must sign cards - and then wait a month or often much more to have an election, during which time the employer can intimidate employees and threaten termination. As a result, it has been impossible to form a union in Wal-Mart, despite the fact that Wal-Mart workers regularly say they would prefer a union.

The Employee Free Choice Act makes the process much simpler and more streamlined  - and gives choice to the employees. Once the majority of employees sign union cards, then they win the right union representation - it's as simple as that. And despite what Wal-Mart and other business interests are telling the public, employees can still choose a secret ballot election if they prefer.  

READ THE WAL-MART WATCH EFCA FACT SHEET:  

The Employee Free Choice Act: Wal-Mart’s Last Stand Against Unionization?  With the election of Barack Obama and the potential passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, Wal-Mart is clearly afraid that its anti-worker practices of the last half century might be coming to a close. (PDF)

While most businesses are struggling through the recession, Wal-Mart and the Walton Family are making billions in profit from low-income shoppers who have no choice but to shop at Wal-Mart and middle and upper class shoppers who have opted to trade down and shop at Wal-Mart while times are tough. Yet Wal-Mart has perpetuated the recession, by refusing to share any of the wealth with its 1.4 million workers.  Even at full-time hours, most Wal-Mart workers aren't paid enough to support a family in America today.

EFCA is the change they need to improve their jobs and their lives. 

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Barack Obama and Joe Biden have consistently expressed their support for the legislation, and hope to see the issue come before Congress soon. Join Barack Obama today, and support Wal-Mart workers, America's middle class and Employee Free Choice.

THE IMPACT OF EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE: MORE WORKERS WITH HEALTH CARE & PENSION BENEFITS

SEIU and the Campaign for America's Future show us how the Employee Free Choice Act will allow workers in all 50 states to earn health care and pension benefits - both of which are cornerstones of a strong middle class. See a full map at SEIU.org, or read about the orginal report at the Campaign for America's Future.