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Minneapolis City Council urges Congress to support workers' rights to organize unions, pass Employee Free Choice Act By Steve Share, Minneapolis Labor Review editor The resolution passed unanimously. All 13 City Council members were listed as authors. Council member Gary Schiff, ninth ward, was listed as introducing author. The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year but was stopped by a Republican filibuster in the U.S. Senate in June. The Minneapolis City Council resolution supporting the legislation noted that workers in unionized workplaces, compared to non-union workplaces, earn higher wages and receive better benefits like health insurance and pensions. The resolution also noted that employers nationwide spend millions of dollars to oppose union organizing efforts. Even if workers do vote to form a union, the resolution continued, “employers often refuse to bargain fairly with workers after forming a union by dragging out first contract bargaining for up to two years in 45 percent of successful campaigns.” In passing the resolution, the Minneapolis City Council went on record supporting EFCA provisions calling for the recognition of unions when a majority of workers in a workplace sign union authorization cards. The EFCA resolution also endorsed mediation and arbitration for first contracts and “meaningful penalties for violations of a worker’s freedom to choose a union. The resolution concluded: “we urge Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act to protect and preserve for America’s workers their freedom to choose for themselves whether or not to form a union.” Passing the Employee Free Choice Act has been a top priority of the AFL-CIO and Change to Win labor federations. Corporate America has vigorously opposed the bill. Text of Minneapolis City Council resolution endorsing EFCA
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