Senator Robert Wagner, a Democrat from NY, introduced the legislation
in 1935, when the United States was in the midst of the Great
Depression. The Wagner Act established the rights of employees to
organize, join, or aid labor unions and to participate in collective
bargaining through their representatives. The act also authorized
unions to take “action” for these purposes. This means that workers
could lawfully strike and take other peaceful action as a way of
placing pressure on an employer.
Today we are in the midst of a economic depression resulting in a
shrinking middle class. We are no longer able to buy a house or make
monthly payments. Out of control costs for healthcare, housing,
gasoline and college tuition are putting an ever tighter squeeze on
American families’ budgets. Congress can, and should, take action to
relieve the pressure. Let’s make this the year to start by
strengthening employees’ right to freely form labor unions and grow our
number of union members in the United States. As increasing numbers of
workers collaborate with management through unions, we can preserve
more middle class jobs while making the economy more competitive, that
is why I support the Employee Free Choice Act and want it to become the
law in 2009 .
In Solidarity,
Your Brother
Harold Sterker
Let’s Make History: Support Employee Free Choice
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