Maine AFL-CIO -- Employee Free Choice Act Blog

Ally Spotlight- Reverend Desi Larson

Desi Larson is a minister, a worker, and a scholar. As a faculty member of the University of Southern Maine she was a member of the Associated Faculties of the University of Maine. Her scholarly work has been focused on the issues of poverty and community development.

As of 2007 Desi became a full time Methodist Minister at the Bracket Memorial Church on Peaks Island. She became involved with Interfaith Worker Justice and has made the fight the for the Employee Free Choice Act her own. Desi was part of a recent delegation of religious leaders that met with Senator Snowe.

In this clip Desi is speaking at the Metal Trades Council Workers’ Rights Forum held in Eliot on the 16th of April. In her talk she cuts to the point and explains her support for the Employee Free Choice Act saying, “We all [religious leaders] base our support on the teachings of the scriptures that over and over says that we are to support the oppressed.” With friends like Desi, corporate interests don’t stand a chance at defeating the Employee Free Choice Act.

News Highlights: Unemployment Benefits Extended

 

Last Thursday Governor Baldacci signed into law a bill that will extend unemployment benefits for Mainers who have been laid-off for an additional 13 weeks. It's estimated that this legislation may benefit as many as 10,000 unemployed Mainers. Much of the funding is actually coming out of the stimulus funding that Maine has received. http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=251323&ac=PHnws

Sweatfree Communities Report Release

Bjorn Claeson Excecutive Director of Sweatfree Communities

 

See the Entire Press Conference Here

Last Wednesday better known as tax day our Ally Sweatfree Communities held a press conference to release their new report  "Subsidizing Sweatshops II." The report documents how our tax dollars are being spent on products being produced in sweatshops domestically and abroad. Among the findings in the report was the fact that the uniforms purcahsed for the Maine State Police are produced under sweatshop conditions.

The press conference also highlighted some of the policy solutions to this problem. Paramount among these solutions is passing the Employee Free Choice Act. Our own Ed Gorham, President of the Maine AFL-CIO spoke on this. Sarah Bigney of the Maine Fair Trade Campaign also spoke on how changes in our trade policy can help prevent the proliferation of sweatshop conditions.

Jim Deschaine, Machinists District 4

When asked why he wanted to form a union with his co-workers, Jim explained that he had “to put a stop” to the slashing of benefits, vacation time and work speedups. Jim and his co-workers could not sit by idly as the new owner of their mill tried to squeeze them.

 

So they successfully waged an organizing campaign and affiliated with IAM District-Lodge 4. At present they are in a drawn out battle for a first contract.

Jim has spoken at several events including the Western Maine Labor Council, Worker's Rights Forum. He writes letters and makes phone calls to make sure that our congressional delegation knows where he stands on the Employee Free Choice Act. "I'm not going to sign anything unless I want it" explains Jim "when I signed that card I want [to form] the union now."

Symposium on the Employee Free Choice Act

The event on Monday night at the University of Maine Orono, organized by Food and Medicine, was a huge success. Over 300 people were in attendance. Workers, religious leaders, and students spoke about why they support the Employee Free Choice Act.

 

Rev. David Granger of the Orono Methodist Church quoted from the book of Isiah saying “ Thy shall not build and another inhabit, thy shall not plant and another eat. My chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hand.” The Reverend saw worker’s rights as an ethical imperative.

 

The keynote speaker, Barbara Ehrenreich the bestselling author of “Nickel and Dimed” held a similar view. She recounted her experience as a low wage worker in Portland Maine and argued that the Employee Free Choice Act is needed to restore dignity to the workplace and to act as a grassroots economic stimulus.

Call to Action: Expanding Our Campaign

We are looking for business owners that support the Employee Free Choice Act to step forward and be recognized. If you are, or happen to know a business owner that supports the Employee Free Choice Act, please contact us by e-mailing Ben at btraslav@employeefreechoice.org.

We are also seeking workers that want to have their story told. Have you been laid off recently, or have you been discriminated against in an organizing campaign or first contract campaign?  Contact Ben at btraslav@employeefreechoice.org. By stepping forward you are helping to ensure that others don’t have to suffer through a similar experience as you.