Labor & Employment Law

230 Economists Voice Support for Employee Free Choice

By Seth Michaels

The Employee Free Choice Act is absolutely necessary to help workers rebuild the economy, according to a statement signed by 230 economists.

In the statement, many of America’s top economists, including Nobel Prize laureates, explain why the new law to protect workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain is more than desirable?it’s essential. Released by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), the statement builds on a February call for the legislation that has gathered growing support among economists.

The 230 economists, coming from top institutions in 33 states, point to the erosion of working family incomes as a key factor in our economic crisis?and the need for the freedom of workers to bargain collectively, without fear of management abuses, as key to recovery. The signers say:

As economists, we believe this is a critically important step in rebuilding our economy and strengthening our democracy by enhancing the voice of working people in the workplace.

These economists join hundreds of academics and other experts from across the country, from historians to business professors, as well as a broad coalition of faith, environmental, small business and civil rights groups, who are supporting the Employee Free Choice Act.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on June 24, 2009 (boomark / email).