2007-26572 Reso
RESOLUTION NO. 2007-26572
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE U.S.
CONGRESS TO PASS THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT TO
PROTECT AND PRESERVE WORKERS' FREEDOM TO JOIN A
UNION.
WHEREAS, in 1935, the United States established, by law, that workers must be free to
form unions; and
WHEREAS, the freedom to form or join a union is internationally recognized by the
1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a fundamental human right; and
WHEREAS, the free choice to join with others and bargain for better wages and benefits
is essential to economic opportunity and good living standards; and
WHEREAS, unions benefit communities by strengthening living standards, stabilizing
tax bases, promoting equal treatment and enhancing civic participation; and
WHEREAS, states in which more people are union members are states with higher
wages, better benefits and better schools; and
WHEREAS, union workers receive better wages and benefits, with union workers
earning 29 percent more than workers without a union, 35 percent more likely to
have access to health insurance, and are four times more likely to have access to a
guaranteed defined-benefit pension; and
WHEREAS, unions help raise workers' pay and narrow the income gap for minorities
and women, by increasing median weekly earnings by 31 percent for union
women workers, 31 percent for African-American workers, 50 percent for Latino
workers, 9 percent for Asian American workers; and
WHEREAS, workers across the nation are routinely denied the freedom to form unions
and bargain for a better life, with 25 percent of private-sector employers illegally
firing at least one worker for union activity during organizing campaigns; and
WHEREAS, 77 percent of the public believes it is important to have strong laws
protecting the freedom for workers to make their own decision about having a
union, and 58 percent of workers would join a union if they had the chance; and
WHEREAS, employers often refuse to bargain fairly with workers after forming a union
by dragging out first contract bargaining for up to two years in 45 percent of
successful campaigns; and
WHEREAS, each year millions of dollars are spent to frustrate workers' efforts to form
unions, and most violations of workers' freedom to choose a union occur behind
closed doors, with 78 percent of employers forcing employees to attend
mandatory anti-union meetings; and
WHEREAS, when the right of workers to form a union is violated, wages fall, race and
gender pay gaps widen, workplace discrimination increases and job safety
standards disappear; and
WHEREAS, a worker's fundamental right to choose a union free from coercion and
intimidation is a public issue that requires public policy solutions, including
legislative remedies; and
---
WHEREAS, the Employee Free Choice Act has been introduced in the U.S. Congress in
order to restore workers' freedom to join a union; and
WHEREAS, The Employee Free Choice Act will safeguard workers' ability to make
their own decisions with these abuses, provide for first contract mediation and
arbitration, and establish meaningful penalties when employers violate workers'
rights; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach supports the Employee Free Choice Act which
would authorize the National Labor Relations Board to certify a union as the
bargaining representative when a majority of employees voluntarily sign
authorizations designating that union to represent them; provide for first contract
mediation and arbitration; and establish meaningful penalties for violations of a
worker's freedom to choose a union.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA that the U.S.
Congress is hereby urged to pass the Employee Free Choice Act to protect and
preserve for America's workers their freedom to choose for themselves whether
or not to form a union.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this
6th
,2007.
ATTEST:
~1J~
Robert Parcher
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & lANGUAGE
& FOR EXecUllON
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City Atft;\(l1fiV :,~,ie
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MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION
MEMORANDUM
TO: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
CC:
Jose Smith, City Attorney
P.tP) tnt.
FROM:
Richard L. Steinberg, Commissioner
DATE: May 22,2007
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SUBJECT: Agenda Item-Resolution Urging the U.S. Congress to Pass the Employee Free Choice
Act to Protect and Preserve Workers' Freedom to Join a Union
I would like to place the following resolution on the June 6th Commission Agenda for action.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my Aide, Ms. Marlene Taylor, at
extension 6087.
RLS/mt
Attachment: Draft resolution
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We are cOfTlmilled to providing excel/ent public service and salety to 01/ who five, wor( and play In OUI v,
Agenda Item
Date
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MIAMrBEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
City Clerk's Office
Phone: 305-673-7411
Fax: 305-673-7254
Email: CityClerk@miamibeachfl.gov
June 13, 2007
Members of the Congress
House of Representatives
Members of the Senate
Washington, DC
Honorable Members of the Congress:
Enclosed please find Resolution No. 2007-26572 urging the U.S. Congress to pass the
Employee Free Choice Act to protect and preserve workers' freedom to join a union.
Respectfully submitted,
~cf ~~
Robert E. Parcher
City Clerk
REPllh
Enclosure
C:
Mayor David Dermer
Vice-Mayor Michael Gongora
Commissioner Matti Herrera Bower
Commissioner Simon Cruz
Commissioner Saul Gross
Commissioner Jerry Libbin
Commissioner Richard L. Steinberg
Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
F:\CLER\HA TL \Letters\ TransmiltaI\2007-26572 transmittal letter. doc
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work, and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.