APALA Honors International Human Rights Day Through Support of Employee Free Choice Act
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2008
Contact: Amado Uno, Executive Director
Phone: 202-508-3733
Email: muno@apalanet.org
APALA Honors International
Human Rights Day
Through Support of
Employee Free Choice
Act
Washington D.C. - In honor of the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, APALA encourages the support and passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.
"International Human Rights Day allows us to reflect on the fundamental right for workers to form and join a union," said Maria Somma, APALA National President. "Wages are dropping, health care costs are rising, pensions are disappearing, and we are in danger of losing our middle class. Passage of the Employee Free Choice Act represents the single best tool to create an economy that works for all."
Passage of the Employee Free Choice Act would provide workers with a fair and direct path to form unions through majority sign-up, allow for mediation and arbitration if an employer and union are not able to establish first contract and strengthen penalties against employers that violate labor laws.
"More than half of U.S. workers - nearly 60 million workers - say they would join a union right now if they could," said Amado Uno, APALA Executive Director. "The Employee Free Choice act ensures that the will of workers to form and join a union is respected."
Unions help to narrow the income gap, provide health benefits, pensions, and more importantly, provide a vehicle for workers to have a voice in their workplace. Over 600,000 Asian Pacific Americans, part of 15.4 million workers in the country, have stood up to demand respect and dignity in their workplace by joining the labor movement.
APALA calls on our allies to recognize the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and support the Employee Free Choice Act.
Founded in 1992, APALA is the first and only national organization of Asian Pacific American union members.