Employee Free Choice Act introduced
March 12, 2009
On Tuesday, Representative George Miller and Senator Tom Harkin introduced the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation that would ensure that workers have a free choice and a fair chance to form a union, without fear of being fired. You can learn more about the bill and the broad coalition supporting it from our friends at American Rights at Work. Labor organizations–and their LGBT constituent groups, like the AFL-CIO’s Pride at Work— have been a stalwart advocate for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Through collective bargaining, unions were early adopters of employment protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as domestic partner benefits and transgender-inclusive health benefits. In the 30 states where it remains legal to discriminate against a gay, lesbian or bisexual employee and the 38 states where transgender workers lack protections, union contracts are a critical safeguard for millions of LGBT workers. The Employee Free Choice Act will help to make protections like these available to even more hardworking Americans. HRC is proud to be a part of the coalition supporting this important measure.
