Employee Free Choice Act

1. Employee Free Choice Act Restoring the Freedom to Bargain for a Better Life www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

2. This is a story about Power • Union power built the American Middle Class • Corporate America wants ALL the power • We are fighting to win back: • Good Jobs • Affordable Health Care • A Secure Retirement • Freedom to Bargain Collectively www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

3. Workers are Falling Behind Average Increase in Income Off the chart! 497% Source: Economic Policy Institute 181% 200% 1947-'73 1973-'04 150% 116% 97.1% 103% 98.2% 84.8% 100% 63.6% 38.4% 50% 23.4% 12.9% 2.8% 0% Second Poorest Poorest Middle Richest Second Richest Top 0.1%* Top 0.01%* 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% *1979-2001 www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

4. We Make It – They Take It CEO Wages vs. Worker Wages Workers Wages 1200% CEO Compensation 900% CEO Salary up 700%! 600% 300% 0 1947 1950 1953 1956 1959 1962 1965 1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

5. …and Corporations don’t give much back % of Tax Revenue from Corporations Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

6. Union Workers Make 30% More Average Weekly Wages Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2006 www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

7. Union Workers Have Better Benefits % of Workers With Benefits Source: U.S. Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2005. www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

8. 60 Million Americans Would Join a Union Now if They Could Vote For Union Representation Among nonunion, non-managerial workers Not sure Favor union Oppose union www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

9. But Every Day, Corporations Deny Employees the Freedom to Gain a Better Life Harassed Threatened Fired www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

10. Verizon: the poster child for corporate bad behavior • There’s no better example of why working people need the Employee Free Choice Act than the anti-union and anti-worker actions of Verizon.

11. Verizon’s Corporate Strategy • Wall off union-represented areas of company • Keep Wireless non-union • Keep VZ Business non-union • Attack collective bargaining

12. Why the Employee Free Choice Act Matters: The System is Broken • Amongprivate-sector employers whose workers try to form unions: • 78% force workers to attend one-on-one anti-union meetings with supervisors • 92%force employees to attend mandatory anti-union meetings • 25%illegally fire at least one worker for union activity • 33% never agree to a contract www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

13. There’s a way to fix it: The Employee Free Choice Act • This legislation strengthens protections for workers' freedom to choose union representation. • Results in more workers being able to bargain with their employers for better wages, benefits, and working conditions • Strengthens penalties for companies that break the law when workers are trying to form unions   • Establishes mediation and binding arbitration when the employer and workers cannot agree on a first contract • Enables workers to form unions when a majority signs union authorization cards www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

14. Who Supports the Employee Free Choice Act? More than two-thirds of the American public Strongly oppose Strongly favor Somewhat oppose 69% Not sure Somewhat favor www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

15. The Employee Free Choice Act Majority Sign-Up: • Balances power between workers and management • Minimizes workplace conflict • Avoids coercion and harassment of workers • Eliminates delays • It’s a proven approach • It’s democratic www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org

16. The House of Representatives approved the Employee Free Choice Act by a 241-185 vote. The bill is now on the Senate floor and we’re building support. Elected officials are supporting Verizon workers. Elected leaders are signing on:

19. Employee Free Choice Act Because Every Worker Deserves the Freedom to Bargain for a Better Life www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org