9 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA -- Sacramento union workers rallied outside the federal courthouse in downtown Sacramento Thursday morning. About a dozen of them spent the night on the sidewalk, showing their support for the bill.
The legislation was introduced to Congress in March. Its text states that it would amend the National Labor Relations Act to make it easier for employees to join labor organizations. It also strengthens penalties against employers who violate workers' rights or try to retaliate against workers who try to form unions.
"We have a system where we have a lot of people who are extremely rich and a lot of people that are just barely getting by," said Zak Ford of the Sacramento Central Labor Council. "To have a voice at the workplace, have collective bargaining agreements where workers get better wages and benefits is going to benefit the whole entire nation."
Opponents, though, say it wouldn't be good for the economy because the bill would add a burden for employers, which could result in more job losses and discourage competitiveness and innovation in the American workplace.
Another debatable point is a clause in the bill that could end secret ballots when workers vote on whether or not to form a union. That means that one's coworkers could know how one voted on unionization, which some say could lead to intimidation from union proponents.
News10/KXTV
