Every worker has right to a Work * Dec. 6th/Dec. 10th kick-off events for campaign to restore the right to form unions and bargain collectively * Member Mobilization Workshop on the Right to Organize AFL-CIO Campaign

Millions of Workers Want Unions AFL-CIO Campaign Probably vote against union Definitely vote for union Probably vote for union Definitely vote against union Not sure Among all nonmanagerial workers 53% 41% Source: Peter Hart Research. Recent polls indicate that over 42 million workers would join unions if they could.

Union Wage Advantage AFL-CIO Campaign Source: U.S. Department of Labor, “Employment and Earnings,” January NonunionUnion Union workers earn 26% more per week than those without a union.

AFL-CIO Campaign Organizing Strengthens Bargaining in Casinos Reno Low union density Las Vegas High union density Wages are 24% higher in Las Vegas than in Reno for identical occupations. Source: HERE.

Organizing Strengthens Bargaining in Nursing Homes AFL-CIO Campaign $8.75 8% 52% Bay Area Los Angeles California: Bay Area and Los Angeles Union DensityWages $12.17 Source: SEIU, “United We Win.”

AFL-CIO Campaign Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employee Benefits in Private Industry,” NonunionUnion 75% of union workers get health benefits compared with 49% of nonunion workers: 26 percentage points union advantage. Union Health Insurance Advantage

AFL-CIO Campaign Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employee Benefits in Private Industry,” % of union workers have guaranteed pensions compared with only 14% of nonunion workers: 55 percentage points union advantage. Nonunion Union Union Pension Advantage

Collective Bargaining Reduces Poverty AFL-CIO Campaign Source: U.S. Census Bureau, BNA, Poverty Line $17,472

Narrows Race and Gender Wage Gaps AFL-CIO Campaign Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Earnings, January 2003.

AFL-CIO Campaign Source: U.S. Census Bureau, BNA, Education Weak Union States Strong Union States Unemployment Insurance Workers’ Compensation Collective Bargaining Strengthens Our Social Safety Net

AFL-CIO Campaign Average tax cut below $140 Income of $46,000 or less = Source: Citizens for Tax Justice. Unions Counter Excessive Corporate Political Power in American Society Average tax cut of $28,414 Income of $374,000 or more = Bush Administration Tax Cut for the Rich

Freedom to Choose a Union Is a Fundamental Human and Legal Right AFL-CIO Campaign “Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.” Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 “Employees shall have the right to…Form…labor organizations [and] to bargain collectively…. “It shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer to interfere with…the exercise of [these] rights….” National Labor Relations Act, 1935

American Workers Are Losing the Freedom to Form Unions and Bargain Collectively 28 Million Workers Are Not Covered by Law Farm workers Independent contractors Supervisors Domestic workers Public employees in 14 states Airport security workers Department of Homeland Security employees For Those “Lucky” Enough to Be Covered by Law System designed to protect workers’ legal right to organize is broken! AFL-CIO Campaign

What happens to workers who try to organize? How do employers interfere in union organizing? During an organizing drive: 25% of employers illegally fire at least one worker for union activity. 75% hire union busters. 78% force workers to attend one -on-one meetings. 92% force employees to attend closed door meetings. 52% threaten to call the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) 51% threaten to close the plant if the union wins.

It’s Time to Fight Back! AFL-CIO Campaign 42 million U.S. workers want unions and can’t get them. We are losing union density. If we don’t increase our numbers, we will lose all power at the bargaining table and in politics. The time to educate ourselves and get mobilized is now !

On Dec. 6th: After a training, more than 100 union members and allies will do house calls to engage other union members in the right to organize campaign! AFL-CIO Campaign

On Dec. 10th, participate in an evening of food and fellowship celebrating our commitment to take back the right to organize. AFL-CIO Campaign