Proposed Bill Would Increase Penalties for Firing Workers Who Organize
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
After LA truck driver Alex Paz tried to
organize his fellow workers into a union, he
was fired. And when DC food
service workers Keyona Dandridge struck
for higher wages she was
fired. If the Employee Empowerment Act were
law, Paz and Dandridge would
not only be able to sue their bosses, but the
threat of serious financial
penalties “would
make them think twice before firing workers for
organizing,” said Rep. Keith Ellison
(D-MN), who on Wednesday held a press
conference on
the bill with co-sponsors John Lewis
(D-GA) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and
featuring workers, civil rights and labor
leaders, including Metro Washington
Council President Jos Williams. “Put teeth in a law
that has
become toothless and the entire economy will
benefit as a result,” said Williams,
speaking on behalf of AFL-CIO President Richard
Trumka. “The AFL-CIO stands
ready to do whatever it takes to make that
happen.” Dandridge,
a single mother who prepares and serves food in
a federal facility in DC,
choked up describing how she’s worked hard to
support her young daughter and
the hardships she’s endured fighting for
worker rights. “That’s alright Keyona,
we’ve got your back!” a voice called out to
Dandridge as Ellison comforted her.
The Employee Empowerment Act – which has some
15 co-sponsors -- would enhance
the scope of the National Labor Relations Act
by expanding protections for
employees who are discriminated against based
on their labor organizing
activities. The Act allows employees to pursue
civil litigation against
employers who discriminate against them for
organizing and entitles victims to
remedies like punitive and compensatory
damages.
- report/photo by Chris
Garlock