Let's listen this Labor Day to Joan Baez singing the folk classic "Joe Hill" at the Operation Ceasefire Concert, September 24, 2005. Baez, one of America's outstanding folk singers and peace activists, pays tribute in her comments to Michael Moore, the Gold Star Families For Peace and Cindy Sheehan for breaking down the Bush administration's "wall of denial."
Joe Hill, shown at left, was the legendary union organizer, laborer and songwriter convicted of murder and executed on scanty evidence, despite an international drive to exonerate him. Hill issued the stirring call on the eve of his execution, "Don't mourn–organize!"
We can also reflect this Labor Day on the weak state of the labor movement, especially under a hostile Bush administration. That's why it's so important to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, which would help employees form a union more easily and hold anti-union employers accountable. The bill would give workers the right to unionize as soon as a majority signs cards stating that they want to join a union. Workers would also have the right to hold a secret-ballot election. It's their "free choice"–one companies would have to honor.
According to "Labor Presses for Measure to Ease Unionizing," New York Times, 12/8/06, "Labor officials say relying on signed cards rather than the traditional secret-ballot elections will make it easier for workers to unionize. Such elections frequently turn into months of battles between management and labor, with union supporters often being fired."
The bill was passed in the House of Representatives in 2007 but fared less well in the Senate, both times along party lines. George Bush has vowed all along that he would veto it. While John McCain has co-sponsored a bill preserving secret ballots, Barack Obama was a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act.
Wal-Mart, known for its poor health coverage and violations of workers' rights, held mandatory meetings with store managers and department heads warning about the dire consequences of an Obama victory through the bill's passage. See my post, "Walmart Warns Workers Against Obama," (8/2/08).
May Wal-Mart's fears come to pass. One more reason to elect Barack Obama and strengthen Democratic representation in Congress is to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, making it easier for workers to organize, end management delaying tactics and harassment, and carry forward the legacy of Joe Hill.
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