RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT, HR 800

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, the United States has long recognized that freedom of association includes employees’ right to form a union; and

WHEREAS, a free choice to join with others in order to bargain for better wages and benefits is essential to economic opportunity and better living standards for workers; and

WHEREAS, workers across the nation are routinely denied the freedom to form unions and bargain for better working conditions, and that due to a fear of retaliation, many workers must literally risk their jobs in order to form a union; and

WHEREAS, even where a union is formed, employers who unsuccessfully opposed the unionization of their workforce often refuse to bargain fairly with an exclusive bargaining representative certified by the National Labor Relations Board, and resort to tactics that undermine the first contract bargaining process; and

WHEREAS, whenever the right of workers to form a union is violated, the policies of freedom of association and equitable workplaces are frustrated; and

WHEREAS, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and U.S. Representative George Miller (D-Calif.), have introduced H.R. 800, the “Employee Free Choice Act,” to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes; and

WHEREAS, H.R. 800 passed the House of Representatives on March 1, 2007 and is presently pending before the Senate; and

WHEREAS, if passed, H.R. 800 would permit the National Labor Relations Board to certify an individual or labor organization as the exclusive bargaining representative upon proof that a majority of employees in a unit appropriate for bargaining has signed valid authorizations without the need for an election, thereby significantly easing the process of appointing an exclusive bargaining representative, and further provides speedy access to arbitration and penalties for unfair labor practices; and

WHEREAS, if passed, H.R. 800 would safeguard workers’ ability to make a decision to unionize without coercion and intimidation by employers, as well as expedite the process of achieving a new union’s first contract with the employer.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors supports the “Employee Free Choice Act” H.R. 800 and recognizes the crucial importance of passing that Act in the 110^th Congress as the key step toward the goals of safeguarding freedom of association and achieving equitable workplaces.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors directs the Clerk of the Board to send copies of this resolution to the President and to all Members of the United States Congress representing the County of San Mateo.

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