Arkansas AFL-CIO

Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka speaks

Listen to Richard Trumka now.

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka speaks at a Center for American Progress event in Washington DC. He shares his vision for the future of the trade union movement and discusses the challenges and choices facing organized labor today. He also talks about the AFL-CIO's new study of young workers and the economy they face. More in next week's issue on that.

Local Union Spotlight: USW Local 1327

Charles Henderson of USW Local 1327 in Ashdown, Arkansas explains what his local is doing to support the Employee Free Choice Act. This local represents paper workers at the paper mill in Ashdown. As Charles puts it in his letter to the Ashdown paper, "A job in the Domtar mill is one of the best jobs in our community, because we can protect our working conditions through our union, the United Steel Workers. Our workforce is stable and the company knows that union employees are committed to producing an excellent product."

Ally of the Week: Sierra Club

The Arkansas chapter of Sierra Club is yet another group to lend its voice in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.  But what does an environmental organization have to do with labor law reform?  Sierra Club’s regional representative in Arkansas, Glen Hooks, says it’s all about green jobs- and the ability of unions to help create an eco-friendly economy.

“The Sierra Club supports the Employee Free Choice Act because we know that a green jobs revolution is going to take a well-trained workforce,” said Hooks.  “And we know that a well-trained workforce happens with unions.”

Sierra Club is supportive of this legislation on both a national and local level.  In Arkansas, Hooks has participated in several events to support the Employee Free Choice Act.   Back in April, Hooks spoke at a letter drop event at Senator Lincoln’s office in Little Rock in support of the bill.

“The Employee Free Choice Act is going to benefit workers, environmentalists and the entire United States,” he said.

The Arkansas AFL-CIO would like to thank the Arkansas chapter of Sierra Club for their support!

To see Glen Hooks talk about why the Employee Free Choice Act matters for Sierra Club and environmentalists, click here.

Local Union Spotlight: AFGE 2054

“We can all do together what we cannot do alone,” said Barbara Casanova, President of AFGE 2054, on why we need to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.  AFGE 2054, which represents employees of the McClellan Memorial VA Hospital in Little Rock is doing their part to spread this message to fellow Arkansans. 

“Anytime you have an employer allowing an employee to choose [a union], it will only help your end result- whatever you product may be,” said Casanova recently.  Citing studies that show that unionized hospitals have better outcomes and higher levels of care than non-unionized hospitals as evidence, Casanova said she believed that legislation that would make it easier for workers to form unions is beneficial for our communities and out economies.

Despites already being unionized, Casanova said she is rallying members of Local 2054 around this bill because it will affect all of us.  AFGE 2054 has made phone calls and written letters to Senators Lincoln and Pryor, urging them to support the Employee Free Choice Act.

Keep up the great work AFGE 2054!

To see Sister Casanova talk about why AFGE 2054 is supporting the Employee Free Choice Act, click here.

Unions Helping in the Community

Employee Free Choice Act school supply drive in Texarkana

It is no secret that working families in Texarkana are struggling to make ends meet.  For this reason, area workers and union members held a two week long school supply drive to collect supplies and donate them to some of the hardest hit families in our community.  The school supply drive culminated in a “give away” event on Saturday August 15th and a call to action for America’s middle class. 

The school supply drive and give away was accompanied by a renewed call for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, federal legislation that will make it easier for workers to join together and bargain for better lives.  This event was coordinated by Mary Keeton, Women of Steel Chair for USW Local 752L.  A local small business owner, Paul Keener of the Texarkana Community Journal, joined union members and said he believed that this legislation would help uplift working families and benefit small business such as his.

Photo Courtesy of Paul Keener

To see Mary Keeton of USW 752L talk about this event, click here.

Talk Back

Employee Free Choice Act in the Arkansas Media

Last week, we saw a great letter to the editor that spread the message about the Employee Free Choice Act to the community.  Ricky Nemeth of USW in Fort Smith explained the obstacles that workers face when trying to form a union.  An excerpt:

“Card Check’ Will Level Playing Field

Choice is the core issue surrounding the Employee Free Choice Act. But it has nothing to do with secret ballots and everything to do with ridding the work place of harassment and intimidation so workers can choose freely.

If employers opposed to this bill really care about “free and fair elections,” they might address the intimidation and harassment workers face from employers themselves when attempting to form a union. Employers routinely use the period before an election to threaten workers with plant closures, layoffs and pay cuts. These are just a few of the legal tactics employers commonly use to persuade workers to vote against union representation…”

You can read Ricky Nemeth’s entire letter to the editor here.

Upcoming Events

As we mentioned earlier, the August recess provides us with another chance to reach out to our Congressmen and Senators about the Employee Free Choice.  Where ever they go when they return to their districts this month, we want to be right there to remind them that fate of the most important piece of legislation for working men and women in decades remains undecided.  The planning for many events is currently underway and more details can be found below.   Check the calendar on our website at http://www.arkansasafl-cio.org/index.cfm?action=calendar to stay updated. To add your event, please email Laura at lpackard@arkansasafl-cio.org with event details.

August 22nd- Tabling at the Farmers Market in Little Rock
The Interfaith Worker Justice committee will be tabling and passing out flyers about the Employee Free Choice Act at the Farmer’s Market in Little Rock.  Come out to help or stop by the table to show your support! 
Details: Saturday, August 22nd, Contact Melba at workerjustice@aol.com for more info.

Coming Soon!  Details about Labor Day picnics and activities near you!

Ally of the Week: Arkansas ACORN

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) is nationwide grassroots organization that is committed to to social and economic justice for working people across the country.  In Arkansas, the state level chapter of this organization has been a huge ally in support of the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation that would make it easier for workers to form unions.

Neil Sealy, Head Organizer for Arkansas ACORN, says the group is strongly supporting this legislation in the state because they believe in the right to organize.

“Right now the laws in this country are unfair to those who want to organize.  We support the Employee Free Choice Act because it puts workers on a level playing field and would give workers a chance to have their voice heard in the workplace,” he said.

Arkansas ACORN has participated in several events throughout the state in support of the bill.  Additionally, Sealy said the organization has been collecting handwritten letters from members of the community for Senator Lincoln.

The Arkansas AFL-CIO thanks ACORN and especially the state chapter for their support and efforts!

To watch Neil Sealy talk about Arkansas ACORN’s support of the Employee Free Choice Act, click here.

Local Union Spotlight: USW 7893

The working lunch event in Fort Smith last week was held at the union hall of one of Arkansas’s most diligent locals, USW 7893.  The local has been taking an active role in getting information out to their membership about the Employee Free Choice Act and mobilizing members to take action.

“This bill is designed to benefit employees in Arkansas and the United States,” said Ronnie Teague, President of USW 7893.  “It will allow them to get better wages, retirement- things that will better their lives.”

USW 7893 has been spreading this message to union members and the community for months.  In addition to this latest working lunch event, President Ronnie Teague spoke at an “Economy that Works for Everyone” event back in March.

The Arkansas AFL-CIO would like to commend USW 7893 on all of their tremendous efforts in this campaign!

To see USW 7893 President Ronnie Teague talk about the Employee Free Choice Act, click here.

Fort Smith Presses On

Area workers hold working lunch for Employee Free Choice Act

Workers in Fort Smith know that the campaign to pass the Employee Free Choice Act is far from over.  And this is why this past week, members from several unions came together and held a working lunch event.  

The group of about fifteen workers wrote handwritten letters to Senator Lincoln, asking her to support this important legislation for America’s middle class.  Additionally, the group phoned her DC offices with the same message. 

This event was part of a continued effort by area union members to support the bill and get the message out to the public.  Two local news stations came out to cover this action.

To see a KNWA Fox 24’s coverage of the working lunch event in Fort Smith, click here.