George W. Bush

Candidate response not received.

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John Kerry

Workers’ Freedom to Form a Union
What specific action will you take to ensure America’s workers truly have the freedom to form unions and to preserve workers’ right to collective bargaining?

I think that the card check and neutrality system is the most fair and equitable way for employees to establish their desire to form a union and for employers to recognize the union and begin negotiations. Unfortunately, with increasing frequency many employers are abridging workers' right to form a union by engaging in unlawful activities, such as firing workers for union activity and discriminating against workers involved in organizing campaigns. I have supported the organizing efforts of workers in Massachusetts, including a statement in support of a janitors strike last year and helping to facilitate an end to the nurses' strike in Brockton, Massachusetts two years ago.

There are several things I would do as President to ensure that workers are free to associate and form a union. I would use the power of the Presidential bully pulpit to highlight the important benefits of union representation for American workers, such as higher wages, better pensions, and better health benefits. I would expose the practices that employers use to obstruct organizing efforts and highlight the impact of employer interference on workers right to form a union. I would use the power of the Executive Branch to require the federal government to give preference to businesses that utilize the card check and neutrality system and I would prohibit the federal government from doing business with employers who violate the rights of workers to organize. I would also immediately overturn President Bush's ban on Project Labor Agreements. And my appointees to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) would restore the balance between labor and management with a commitment to the right of workers to organize and to employer neutrality. I would also ensure that the NLRB receives adequate funding in order to reduce the backlog of pending cases.

I have a strong record protecting the rights of workers to form and belong to unions, including: opposing efforts to allow employers to refuse to hire union organizers; opposing "paycheck protection" legislation aimed at preventing unions from spending money on political activity; opposing efforts to codify the Supreme Court's decision in Beck; supporting the rights of workers in the Department of Homeland Security to belong to a union; supporting collective bargaining rights for state and municipal public safety officers; opposed a national Right to Work law; voting to open worksites to union organizations; and opposing an effort to slash funding for the NLRB.

Do you commit to contacting employers fighting unionization and urging them to respect their employees’ freedom to choose a union, without management intimidation or harassment?

Yes

Will you support or oppose measures to restore the civil service and collective bargaining rights of federal workers?

Do you support or oppose a national “right to work” bill that would prevent workers and management from reaching “union security” agreements that assess the costs of union representation fairly among all workers represented by the union?