Guess who’s joining the campaign for the Employee Free Choice Act in Maine?

It’s state Rep. Jim Campbell, a Republican who is defying the expectations of pundits and corporate shills by supporting workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain. He has appeared at public events around the state and written in local news outlets to show his support for the Employee Free Choice Act. 

Here’s what Campbell says about the need to pass the Employee Free Choice Act and its importance to rebuilding the economy: 

Common-sense solutions should be used to create good jobs that can support a family and put money back into our economy. Historically, no institution has been as effective at improving the quality of life for working families as membership in a union. Union members earn better wages, have better health care coverage and can count on a more secure retirement than nonunion workers.

Arkansas union members rally for Employee Free Choice.

While Campbell joins the grassroots campaign in Maine, union members and allies across the country have been busy during this week’s congressional recess. Here are some highlights from the fight for Employee Free Choice: 

• In Minnesota this week, Sen.  Al Franken, who supports the Employee Free Choice Act, thanked his “brothers and sisters” in the union movement who worked hard during his campaign. He said his own union membership helped him to get health care. Congratulations again to Minnesota’s newest pro-worker senator, who will be a valuable voice in Washington.
• In Louisiana, union members, faith leaders and other supporters of the freedom to form unions are kicking off a petition drive and a new round of visits to the offices of their U.S. senators.
• Members of the Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) in Virginia are holding working lunches to write letters to their senators supporting Employee Free Choice. Union members also are holding working lunches in Wisconsin.
• In Arkansas, union members and allies are getting ready for a major push on the Employee Free Choice Act over the next week that will include rallies and town hall meetings.  They continue to deliver thousands of handwritten letters to their senators.
• In Colorado, union members are remembering the past by honoring the miners of Ludlow and looking to the future by gathering local support for the Employee Free Choice Act from workers and small business leaders.

Congratulations to the seven lucky National Education Association (NEA) members who today won top prizes in the AFL-CIO Winning Together Contest by displaying their knowledge of the power of union solidarity.

The contest was sponsored by the federation’s Unity Partnerships project and was open to NEA members and staff attending the NEA Representative Assembly Expo in San Diego this week.

To enter the contest, participants answered a question about the combined voting strength of NEA and AFL-CIO active and retired households in their home states. Those who answered correctly were eligible for the grand prize and two second prizes. Everyone who submitted an answer was eligible for one of three third prizes.

In today’s drawing, Carol Sampsel of State College, Pa., won the grand prize of a $1,000 Costco gift certificate. Sampsel says:

[I] Just got a new place to live so this will come in handy!

The second prize winners, who each receive an AT&T BlackBerry Curve 8320 cell phone, are: 

• Angela Gonzalez of Miami, Fla.
• Nancy Gentis of Las Vegas
• Claudia Bock of Newark, Del.

And the three winners of the third prize—an AT&T Samsung SGH-a737 cell phone—are: 

• Lynette Wright of Elburn, Ill.
• Mary Mayof Nashville, Tenn.
• Amy Peel of Reno, Nev.

Unity Partnerships is a groundbreaking agreement between the national AFL-CIO and the NEA that allows local NEA associations to affiliate directly with the AFL-CIO.  The program is supported by the AFT, a longtime AFL-CIO affiliate.

Cutting through the myths and explaining the importance of workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain, Mark Ayers, president of the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD), makes the case for the Employee Free Choice Act in the upcoming issue of The Voice, the magazine of the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT). 

In an op-ed aimed at leaders in the construction industry, Ayers says much of the controversy around the legislation is based on “outlandish claims” by opponents who hope to keep workers from bargaining for a better life. Indeed, Ayers says, the freedom of workers to form unions and bargain is a tool to strengthen the economy. 

Ayers says that when it comes to wages, health care benefits and training of workers, unions help level the playing field and improve economic performance among employers: 

The Employee Free Choice Act is a win-win for America and American businesses. Unions are an essential part of a strong democracy, and they play a crucial role in our public and community life. Unions also make workplaces safer and more productive, and they work to raise professional standards.

Despite a disinformation campaign by big corporations, Ayers says, many business owners and entrepreneurs across the country support of the Employee Free Choice Act, knowing that workers with economic security and purchasing power will help rebuild the economy: 

We applaud the tens of thousands of responsible employers from our industry who have gone on record in support of the Employee Free Choice Act. They understand the value of widespread, shared prosperity in creating sustained economic growth in America. To them, the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act would be a welcome occasion.

Read the whole thing here.

If you get a chance, take a minute and do your part for airline safety and passenger sanity. The Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) ) is urging the U.S. Senate to maintain the ban on in-flight cell phone use. Click here to send your senators a message.

The ban was included in the House-passed version of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill (H.R. 915) in May. The Senate is expected to act this summer. The union says:

“Cell phone usage in the cabin would create a new security risk, compromise flight attendants job of safely executing an emergency evacuation, and ability to maintain order within the cabin amongst cabin noise and tension.”

From the passengers’ viewpoint, don’t forget the possible nightmare of a middle seat, cross-country flight stuck next to a serial yakker. In an interview on the travel blog GADLING, Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) says the cell phone ban goes beyond just eliminating the annoyance factor.

Everyone has experienced poor cell phone etiquette and how annoying it can be. Our bill will make sure the current ban on in-flight cell phone use is not lifted. Beyond the annoyance factor, this is a safety issue. Flight attendants already have to deal with people that will not hang up their phones, and physical altercations between passengers are not unheard of. Also, in-flight cell phone use is not conducive to providing safety instructions and other important announcements.

Click here to send a message to your senators urging them to maintain the in-flight cell phone ban.