Pennsylvania Food and Commercial Workers Urge Congress to Pass the Employee Free Choice Act

Legislation would provide workers a free choice to join a union; the best way to
expand our middle class and ensure the economy works for everyone
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) member Kathleen Bridges from
Pittsburgh knows she was one of the lucky ones. When her and her co-workers
decided they wanted a union at Giant Eagle Express to bargain for better wages
and benefits, their employer respected their choice and remained neutral. After
the majority of workers signed union authorization cards the company recognized
the union and in no time, Bridges and her co-workers had their first contract
ratified.

Today, Bridges joined hundreds of other UFCW members, as well as workers who
tried to join the UFCW, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to show her support
for the Employee Free Choice Act.

Bridges is in town to urge Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Robert Casey (D-PA)
to support the bill, which would let workers join the union of their choosing
after a majority of them signed up like Bridges.

"My experience is what forming a union should be like," Bridges said. "It is
unfortunate that most employers resort to intimidation and harassment. I came to
Washington to urge Congress to pass this legislation so that all workers in this
country can have the same rights, and a free and fair choice in how they form a
union."

Bridges` fellow Pennsylvanian Darlene Bruzio knows only too well, like most
workers in this country who have tried to form a union, that the simple fact of
wanting a union can mean losing your job.

Despite having majority support at work, Bruzio, also a Pittsburgh resident, and
her co-workers at Giant Eagle - a sister chain of Giant Eagle Express - lost the
union election because of employer interference. "When you have more than 80
percent support for joining a union, like we did at my store, and still lose an
election, you know that the system is broken," said Bridges who was fired
shortly after the election. "Congress has to realize that and pass the Employee
Free Choice Act."

Throughout the day, UFCW members from across the nation are meeting their
respective elected official 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.

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 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
or
Corey Owens, 202-378-0543
or press@ufcw.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009