Ei-iE

Anti-unionism is a widespread phenomenon in the USA. Senator Bill Hare of Illinois from the Democratic Party spoke to a global union gathering in Washington DC on 13 January on the Employee Free Choice Act. The Act is a legislation proposed to ensure that workers have a free choice and a fair chance to form a union and bargain with their employers for higher wages, benefits and better working condition.

The proposal is very controversial, although a growing bipartisan coalition of policy-makers supports the proposed legislation. With a new administration moving into the White House next week, Senator Hare said that this is the right moment for the labour movement to increase pressure on lawmakers.

The joint chambers of commerce of the USA recently mounted a 20-million dollar campaign against the Act, which they believe will restrict the freedom of enterprises.

The meeting in Washington also discussed ways to mobilize international support. US union leader Larry Cohen proposed to find ten foreign governments willing to help persuade the US government to adopt this new legislation. Cohen also asked that ten US-based and ten non-US-based multinational corporations, known to be anti-union, be targeted by foreign unions in their home countries.

EI was represented by Vice President Reg Weaver and General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen.