Nebraska 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 our middle class and ensure the economy workers for everyone
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Nebraskans Patricia Harris, Armando Martinez, and Jorge Angel - all United Food
and Commercial Workers (UFCW) members - will be 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.

"I know that having a union makes the difference because I have worked in places
where employees were harassed and threatened when they tried to join a union,"
Martinez said. "When I started working at the Hormel Foods plant in Freemont in
1998, UFCW Local Union 22 already represented the workers. All I needed to do
was sign up to show I wanted to join."

Harris, Angel, and Martinez joined hundreds UFCW members and other workers who
tried to join the UFCW to show their support for the Employee Free Choice Act.

Harris, Angel, and Martinez are urging Senators Mike Johanns (R-NE) and Ben
Nelson (D-NE) to support the bill, which would provide a fair process for
workers to join a union.

"I have been with the same employer and a union member for thirty years," said
Homer resident and Tyson Foods worker Harris. "Having a union provides a much
safer place to work and you can talk with the company and they`ll listen. I
support the Employee Free Choice Act because it gives the worker the right to
choose a union if they want to and not be scared away."

Throughout the day, workers from across the nation visited their respective
elected officials to share their stories about forming a union in the workplace,
and to urge them to make the passage of Employee Free Choice a priority.

"The Employee Free Choice Act will give real protection to the thousands of
workers who want to join a union but are afraid of retaliation," Angel said.

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 a contract 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, with nearly 250,000 in the packing 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
or
Corey Owens, 202-378-0543
or press@ufcw.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009