Bill Text: MI HR0010 | 2009-2010 | 95th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution memorializing the Congress of the United States to enact the Employee Free Choice Act.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 23-0)
Status: (Passed) 2009-03-04 - Roll Call # 14 Yeas 67 Nays 40 [HR0010 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2009-HR0010-Introduced.html
Reps. Miller, Barnett, Bennett, Terry Brown, Constan, Dean, Durhal, Gonzales, Haase, Hammel, Haugh, Robert Jones, Lahti, Leland, Lemmons, Lipton, Liss, McDowell, Polidori, Smith, Switalski, Valentine and Warren offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 10.
A resolution memorializing the Congress of the United States to enact the Employee Free Choice Act.
Whereas, In 1935, the United States established, by law, that workers must be free to form unions. The freedom to form or join a union is internationally recognized as a fundamental human right; and
Whereas, Union membership provides workers better wages and benefits, and protection from discrimination and unsafe workplaces. Unions benefit communities by strengthening tax bases, promoting equal treatment, and enhancing civic participation; and
Whereas, Even though on paper America’s workers have the freedom to choose for themselves whether to have a union, in reality, workers across the nation are routinely denied that right. More than 40 million United States workers say they would join a union now if they had the opportunity; and
Whereas, When the right of workers to form a union is violated, wages fall, race and gender pay gaps widen, workplace discrimination increases, and job safety standards disappear; and
Whereas, Many thousands of workers in our country are routinely threatened, coerced, or fired each year because they try to form a union. Most violations of workers’ freedom to choose a union occur behind closed doors, and each year millions of dollars are spent to frustrate workers' efforts to form unions; and
Whereas, A worker's fundamental right to choose a union is a public issue that requires a public policy solution, including legislative remedies; and
Whereas, The Employee Free Choice Act was introduced in the 110th Congress, and it will soon be before Congress again in order to restore workers' freedom to join a union; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the United States Congress to enact the Employee Free Choice Act, which would authorize the National Labor Relations Board to certify a union as the bargaining representative when a majority of employees voluntarily sign authorizations designating that union to represent them; provide for first contract mediation and arbitration; and establish meaningful penalties for violations of a worker’s freedom to choose a union; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
