Indiana Food and Commercial Workers 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 our economy works for everyone
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and Scott`s Foods workers Jennifer
Crupe and Rick Jackson were on Capitol Hill today to share their experience
about having a union at work and to urge their elected officials to support the
passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. The legislation would help strengthen
our economy by making it easier for workers in this country to join a union and
bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

"The union representative contacted me about joining the union," said Fort Wayne
resident and food service manager Crupe. "I read the union contract and realized
it would be better for me to be in a union. That`s when I decided to join. No
one forced me and I have had great experience with the union."

Crupe and Jackson, along with hundreds of other UFCW members and non-union
workers alike, are on Capitol Hill to show their support for the Employee Free
Choice Act.

Crupe and Jackson are urging Senators Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Evan Bayh (D-IN)
to support the bill, which would provide a fair process for workers to form a
union in their workplaces.

"The union helped me and I know that having a union at work makes a difference,"
said Jackson, a meat manager from Huntington. "With the union, our wages are
better and our health insurance is more affordable. Some of my coworkers who`ve
been with the company for over 34 years but work part-time also have good
benefits because we have a union."

UFCW members are meeting with their respective elected officials today, asking
them to make the passage of Employee Free Choice a priority.

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 UFCW represents more than 1.3 million workers, with nearly one million
working in the supermarket industry. 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