New York Times: Employee Free Choice Act is "Vital"
January 6, 2009
The
New York Times hit the nail on the head when it called for swift passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. In thoughtful analysis of workers' role in an economic recovery,
The Times wrote:
"The measure is vital legislation and should not be postponed. Even modest increases in the share of the unionized labor force push wages upward, because nonunion workplaces must keep up with unionized ones that collectively bargain for increases. By giving employees a bigger say in compensation issues, unions also help to establish corporate norms, the absence of which has contributed to unjustifiable disparities between executive pay and rank-and-file pay."
The Times understands that ensuring workers have the freedom to form unions is vital to rebuilding our middle class. Workers in unions earn 30 percent higher wages and are 59 percent more likely to have employer provided health coverage.
President-elect Obama and the new Congress should act with urgency to pass the Employee Free Choice Act to ensure that workers, and not just CEOs, can benefit from the economic progress they help create.
Read the full editorial here.