Washington, D.C. - Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement, is endorsing a campaign organized by National Interfaith Worker Justice (NIWJ) to support the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) of 2005 (HR 1696 and S 842), which addresses employer interference in the right of private sector workers to unionize and bargain collectively.
U.S. labor law is insufficient to protect workers, said David Robinson, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA.
“Most major faith traditions support a worker’s right to organize,” said Robinson. “Unions are a way to reduce poverty for workers in low-wage jobs, lobby for health care and pension benefits for children and families, improve workplace safety, and advocate economic and social policies that support all workers.”
With the passage of the EFCA, workers would be able to form unions without having to face obstacles from their employers, according to NIWJ. Workers would also gain more power in negotiations with employers and an ability to fight against violations of their rights.
The purpose of this campaign is to disseminate the message that “the right of workers to freely organize their workplaces is required in a democracy, and that families and communities are strengthened when workers can bargain for fair wages, adequate benefits and safe working conditions.”
Pax Christi USA encourages all communities of faith to sign onto this campaign to get the Employee Free Choice Act passed. For more information about the EFCA and how to sign onto this campaign, contact Elisabeth Solomon, Public Policy Director with Interfaith Worker Justice, at 773-728-8400, ext. 42. For updated information about the EFCA visit their Web site at http://www.nicwj.org/issues/EFCA.html.
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