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Employee Free Choice Act
What the Faith Community is
Saying about Unions

"The freedom to join trade unions and the effective action of unions...are meant to deliver
work from the mere condition of 'a commodity' and to guarantee its dignity...The right of
association is a natural right of the human being...Indeed, the formation of unions
cannot...be prohibited by the state because the state is bound to protect natural rights..."
                                                 Pope John Paul II, (Centesimus Annus, 1992)

"Jewish Leaders, along with our Catholic and Protestant counterparts, have always
supported the labor movement and the rights of employees to form unions for the purpose
of engaging in collective bargaining and attaining fairness in the workplace. We believe
that permanent replacement of striking workers upsets the balance of power needed for
democratic values of this nation."
(Preamble to the Workplace Fairness Resolution adopted at 104th Annual Convention,
1993)
What is the Employee Free
Choice Act (EFCA)?

EFCA is a bill that will restore the right of working people to form and join
unions. It will require employers to recognize the union once a majority of
workers sign cards; increase penalties on employers who ignore the law; and
assure workers a first contract.

How would EFCA benefit workers in the US?

Unions have a strong history of being the catalyst for changes in public policies -
prohibitions on child labor, the eight-hour workday, social security, pension
protections and the minimum wage were fought for and won by the labor
movement. Union members also gain higher wages through the process of
collective bargaining, advocate for health coverage for uninsured Americans and
stronger enforcement of the Occupational Health and Safety  Act.

IWJ EFCA informational video