HAMMOND - U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky joined members of more than 20 labor organizations Tuesday to rally in support of the Employee Free Choice Act at the IBEW Hall #697.
The Employee Free Choice Act, which will be considered first by the U.S. Senate, will restore workers' freedom to form unions and bargain collectively with employers for higher wages, benefits and job security, said Dan Murchek, president of the Northwest Indiana Federation of Labor AFL-CIO. Murchek helped organize the local grassroots action as part of a nationwide effort by unions before the U.S. Congress goes back into session later this month.
Murchek said an important part of the bill will reiterate employees' rights to a vote by secret ballot to unionize if they chose.
"Employees -- not employers -- decide whether there is a secret ballot (to vote in a union). Corporate America knows that if this bill passes, the power goes to the workers," he said.
Visclosky called the legislation "critical" to workers and the economy.
"You can't tell me abusive practices don't happen (when employees try to form unions). There's nothing fair about it," he said. "As a Democrat, I feel our party failed labor years ago when we had a majority in Congress and didn't pass this legislation.
"It's not a level playing field. Soon people are not going to make a living wage and have a benefit package."
Those at the rally wrote letters to U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., that were collected and were to be hand delivered to his Hammond office, Murchek said. The labor leader also encouraged everyone to call the senator's office.
"If you don't have a cell phone, you can use mine," Murchek said. "When you go home, have your wife call, your neighbors, your brothers, your sisters call. Jobs are very important."
Many of those at the rally said they were retired from area industries and attended to support younger workers.
Stephen Skvara is District 7 representative to SOAR (Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees) and a retiree of LTV Steel.
"We're here not only to support the workers here, but we have kids and grandkids in the labor force," Skvara said. "Workers are afraid to start a union. Companies hire union-busting firms."
