Protecting the Right To Organize

Finally, a ray of light streaming through the clouds of organized anti-union legislation.

Congressmen Keith Ellison and John Lewis have introduced legislation (H.R. 5280, the Employee Empowerment Act) that would amend the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to make Labor organizing a civil right. If signed, the law would provide workers who are harassed-or fired-for trying to join a union with similar protections as those afforded under the Civil Rights Act.

This isn't a new idea.  In 2012, Richard Kahlenberg, Moshe Marvit and Thomas Geoghan wrote a book called Why Labor Organizing Should be a Civil Right, and in a New York Times op-ed that same year, Kahlenberg and Marvit wrote:

"It's time to add the right to organize a labor union, without employer discrimination, to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, because that right is as fundamental as freedom from discrimination in employment and education."

Kahlenberg and Marvit further explained that-while it is technically already illegal to fire somebody for trying to organize a union, the penalties for violating that law are so minor as to actually incentivize a company to stop a union by firing the organizers.

Reps. Ellison and Lewis took a different tack than Kahlenberg and Marvit, opting to focus on the nearly 80-year-old NLRA rather than the Civil Rights Act — a seemingly wise choice given the Roberts Court's recent rulings in other Civil Rights cases.

We believe a vibrant labor movement was key to building the 20th century American middle class, and that when unions are strong, all Americans are better off. We also believe — in a country that protects our freedom of speech, our freedom of association and our freedom of assembly, there is no doubt that the right to organize or form a union and advocate for better wages and workplace protections should be cherished and protected.

Rep. Ellison has posted a petition in support of the Employee Empowerment Act. We know the bill has a long way to go — especially in this anti-worker political climate — so we've added our names. We hope you will, too!

In Solidarity,
Ken

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