A national drive to make it easier for employees to unionize took to the streets of Denver on Thursday with a march and rally of about 400 people.
Leading the charge was Andy Stern, international president of the Service Employees International Union.
“We want change that works. That’s why we’re here today, ” he said at Denver’s Auraria campus.
SEIU and other labor groups are pushing the “Employee Free Choice Act,” which would eliminate the secret-ballot requirement in union elections. Businesses would be required to recognize unions if a majority of their employees signed union cards. Opponents say the act would open workers to pressure and intimidation.
President-elect Barack Obama supports the act, but it’s unclear how hard he will push it.
Stern said the act would restore rights given to unions in 1935 that were later revoked by the U.S. Supreme Court. It would not eliminate elections using secret ballots, he said, but would give organizers a choice of whether to hold them.
The union referred to Carnation Building Service Inc., a nonunion Aurora janitorial contractor for Denver International Airport, to point out the need for the legislation. SEIU officials said they filed six complaints with the National Labor Relations Board against Carnation, claiming it fired or harassed workers for organizing.
Francisco Rodriguez, 55, of Aurora said Carnation fired him and his 21-year-old daughter in October after they signed and circulated union cards.
“They told me, ‘We don’t need you anymore.’ But a supervisor told my daughter she would be fired” for organizing, he said.
Carnation officials declined to comment Thursday.
Greg Griffin: 303-954-1241 or ggriffin@denverpost.com
