IWJ Nebraska Lobbys in DC for the Employee Free Choice Act

(Lft-Rt: Noel Andersen, Jason Prokop-Legislative Assistant, Rev. Robyn Fickes, Rev. Frederick McCullough, Rev. Janet Banks and Rev. Debra McKnight)

Please see this link for video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qOtBlEto9o&feature=player_embedded

IWJ Nebraska joined a delegation of farmers, teachers and faith leaders to advocate for the Employee Free Choice Act(EFCA) in Washington DC last Thursday, 9/10/09. With the support of American Rights at Work, more than 300 activists from 15 states were on Capitol Hill to tell their elected leaders that workers need and deserve meaningful labor law reform. The diverse group of small business owners, veterans, farmers, students, faith leaders, civil rights activists, women’s advocates, and environmentalists united in one voice to remind lawmakers why the Employee Free Choice Act is vital to rebuilding our economy.

The Interfaith Worker Justice brought three Pastors from Omaha and joined with two more Pastors from Lincoln. We extended the conversation to include the moral, ethical and theological voice to the discussions with our Senators and Congresspersons. Together we visited the offices of Senator Nelson, Senator Johanns, Rep. Lee Terry, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry and Rep. Adrien Smith. We also delivered a letter of twenty four clergy throughout Lincoln and Omaha who have signed onto a letter from the perspective of faith in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

EFCA can change the way in which workers organize giving further protection against the illegal intimidation and terminations during a unionization campaign, provide binding arbitration for a contract upon winning an election and give the option to workers if they want a secrete ballot or a majority sign up through union authorization cards. With Senator Harkin's leadership, we have the opportunity to get EFCA passed in 2009!

As we continue to work on health care, we must remember that causes such as EFCA and Immigration Reform are more likely to pass if we can be successful with health care reform!