Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)

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One Million Strong for the Employee Free Choice Act

Change to Win has joined with a wide range of labor unions and progressive organizations in a unique campaign -- One Million Strong for the Employee Free Choice Act -- whose goal is to rally a million working men and women across America in support of passing this critical legislation and restoring the American Dream. Learn more or add your name to the campaign today.

What is the Employee Free Choice Act?

The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) respects that the right to join a union is a fundamental freedom, just like freedom of speech or religion, and that employees should be able to do so without interference from management.

  • Majority Rules, Not the Boss: Currently, a majority of workers can sign up for a union, but the company can veto that decision and demand an election. This allows the company to fire or harass workers, and threaten that it will close the workplace, in order to coerce workers into voting against a union. Under EFCA, if a majority of employees sign cards indicating they want a union, the company has to recognize the union, as long as it is certified by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
  • Fair Resolution of First Contract Disputes: Now, even when workers have won the right to be represented by a union, and even though both sides are required to bargain in good faith, companies can drag out the first contract negotiation process for years. EFCA creates a fair process for resolving first contract disputes.
  • Strong Remedies to Protect Workers’ Rights: Currently, companies face only minimal penalties if they violate employees’ rights to form a union or negotiate a first contract. EFCA would level the playing field by requiring the NLRB to take immediate legal action to reinstate workers fired for union activity and assess triple damages against companies that punish or fire employees for engaging in protected organizing activities.

Learn more about the Employee Free Choice Act.

EFCA: Workers' Stories

Meet working men and women who have courageously stood up for the American Dream:

Hotel Workers Rising

Michael Kaib and Alicia Melgarejo -- hotel workers, Los Angeles, CA

Willie Reed

Willie Reed -- checker, Atlanta, GA

Rodolfo Chavez

Rodolfo Chavez -- delivery truck driver, Miami, Florida

Cheryl Szydlowski and Anishya Sanders -- residential construction workers, Las Vegas, Nevada

Kenny Tucker

Kenny Tucker -- driver, Landover, Maryland

Dave Thomas

Dave Thomas -- driver, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Tyra Johnson

Tyra Johnson -- driver, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Darryl Smitherman

Darryl Smitherman -- driver, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Jose

José Guardado -- meatpacker, Omaha, Nebraska

Linda Merfeld

Linda Merfeld -- nurse, Dubuque, Iowa

Ana Calles

Ana Calles -- uniform worker, Charlotte, North Carolina

Keith Ludlum

Keith Ludlum -- meatpacker, Tar Heel, North Carolina

CtW Resources

More EFCA Resources

EFCA In The News

Take Action!

The Employee Free Choice Act would give millions of American workers a chance to achieve the American Dream. You can help by taking action to ensure Congress supports this important bill.

Is your Representative an EFCA co-sponsor yet?  Find out here!

Organizations Supporting EFCA

  • ACORN
  • AFL-CIO
  • AFSCME (resolution)
  • AFT (resolution)
  • Alliance for Retired Americans
  • American Library Association - Allied Professional Association (resolution—PDF)
  • American Public Health Association (resolution)
  • American Rights at Work
  • Americans for Democratic Action (resolution)
  • Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance
  • California Church Impact
  • Center for American Progress
  • Center for America’s Future
  • Center for Community Change
  • Center for Corporate Policy
  • Church Women United
  • Clergy and Laity Network United for Justice
  • Coalition of Contingent Academics Labor
  • Coalition of Labor Union Women (resolution—PDF)
  • Council on American-Islamic Relations
  • Coalition on Human Needs
  • Coalition of Immokalee Workers
  • Demos
  • Democratic Leadership Council
  • Democratic National Committee (resolution—PDF)
  • Earth Action Network
  • Grassroots Policy Project
  • Gray Panthers
  • Gray Panthers – Austin, Texas
  • Gray Panthers of California
  • Human Rights Watch (resolution)
  • Interfaith Worker Justice
  • Japanese-American Citizens League
  • Jewish Council for Public Affairs (resolution—PDF)
  • Jobs with Justice
  • Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (resolution)
  • Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
  • League of United Latin American Citizens
  • Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
  • NAACP
  • National Council of Women’s Organizations
  • National Employment Law Project
  • National Federation of Filipino American Associations
  • National Immigration Law Center
  • National Latino Congreso  (resolution)
  • National Puerto Rican Coalition
  • National Stonewall Democrats
  • National Workrights Institute (resolution)
  • Ohio AFL-CIO (resolution—PDF)
  • Pax Christi USA (resolution)
  • Presbyterian Church USA – Washington, D.C., office
  • Press Associates Union News Service
  • Pride at Work
  • Progressive Jewish Alliance
  • Progressive Maryland
  • Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism (resolution—PDF)
  • Sierra Club
  • Tikkun/The Network of Spiritual Progressives
  • United Church of Christ - Justice and Witness Ministries
  • United for a Fair Economy
  • United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society (resolution—PDF)
  • United Nations Association of the National Capital Area
  • United States Student Association
  • United Students Against Sweatshops
  • Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations – Washington, D.C., office
  • USAction

DLC Endorses Employee Free Choice Act

Anna Burger and Gov. Tom Vilsack

CtW Chair Anna Burger thanks Gov. Tom Vilsack (Iowa), Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, for the organization’s endorsement of the Employee Free Choice Act. Given the DLC's close ties to the business community, supporting EFCA is a bold stance in favor of workers' rights.

Press Release: DLC Joins with Top Labor Organizations to Endorse Employee Free Choice Act
September 6, 2006