Food and Commercial Workers from Across the Country Urge Congress to Pass Employee Free Choice Act

Legislation would allow workers to have the free choice to join a union; the
best way to expand the middle class and ensure the economy works for everyone
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) members from across the country
visited the halls of Congress today to speak with their elected officials and to
urge passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. The workers, who have tried to
join the UFCW, came to Washington to share their stories about forming a union
in the workplace and to urge their elected representatives in Congress to make
the passage of Employee Free Choice a priority.

The action comes on the heels of the introduction earlier this month of the
legislation in both the Senate and the House.

"I believe that if Congress really cares about fixing the economy and rebuilding
the middle class, it should pass the Employee Free Choice Act," said James
Satler, a former Fresh & Easy grocery worker from California. "The economy
should work for everyone, not just CEOs." Satler was fired for attempting to
organize a union at his workplace.

Despite having majority support at work, Darlene Bruzio and her co-workers at
Giant Eagle in Pennsylvania lost their union election because of employer
interference. "When you have more than 80% support for joining a union, like we
did at my store, and still lose an election, you know that the system is
broken," Bruzio said. "Members of Congress should stop the corporations that are
gaming the system by passing the Employee Free Choice Act."

While most workers` stories heard in Congress today highlight the intimidation
and harassment workers face when trying to form a union, Armando Martinez, a
Hormel Foods worker from Nebraska, shared a positive experience of getting a
voice on the job without intimidation. "I know that having a union makes the
difference because I have worked in places where employees are threatened when
they try to get a voice on the job," Martinez said. "When I started working at
the Hormel Foods plant in Freemont, the UFCW already represented the workers.
All I needed to do was sign up to show I wanted to join the union-all without
any intimidation or harassment from the company."

Sixty million workers say they would join a union if they could. With Employee
Free Choice, workers, not employers, will decide how to form a union. Workers
will have the option of majority sign up in addition to a secret ballot
election. The Free Choice legislation will establish meaningful penalties for
employers who break the law and harass or fire workers for wanting a union.
Finally, Employee Free Choice will ensure that workers gain a first contract
through a provision that calls for binding arbitration if workers and management
cannot reach an agreement within 120 days.

Photos of today`s event are available. Media inquiries should be directed to
Marc Goumbri (202-257-8771) and Corey Owens (202-378-0543) or press@ufcw.org.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) represents
more than 1.3 million workers, primarily in the retail and meatpacking, food
processing and poultry industries. The UFCW protects the rights of workers and
strengthens America`s middle class by fighting for health care reform, living
wages, retirement security, safe working conditions and the right to unionize so
that working men and women and their families can realize the American Dream.

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)
Marc Goumbri, 202-257-8771
Corey Owens, 202-378-0543
press@ufcw.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009