HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-023 - Supporting the Employee Free Choice Act of 2009Qf 5/04/09)
RESOLUTION NO. 2009-023
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA SUPPORTING THE EMPLOYEE FREE
CHOICE ACT OF 2009 (H.R.1409, S.560).
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines
and declares as follows:
A. In the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 151 et seq.) the
United States Congress declared it to be the policy of the United States to
encourage the practice of collective bargaining by protecting the exercise by
workers of full freedom of association, self-organization, and designation of
representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating the terms
and conditions of their employment or other mutual aid or protection; and,
B. The freedom to form or join a union is recognized as a fundamental human
right; and,
C. Union membership provides workers with better wages, improved benefits,
and protection from discrimination and unsafe workplaces; and,
D. Unions benefit communities by moving families out of poverty, creating
economic security, strengthening tax bases, promoting equal treatment, and
enhancing civic participation; and,
E. Because union workers are more likely to have healthcare coverage and
pensions, union membership also reduces the need for working families to
rely on the social safety net; and,
F. Unions helped to build the middle class in this country and to establish basic
working standards that benefit all workers, such as the 8-hour day and the
right to a lunch break; and,
G. A worker's fundamental right to join a union is essential to rebuilding our
economy and revitalizing our middle class; and,
H. Fifty-seven million United States workers have indicated that they would join a
union tomorrow if given the opportunity; and,
Resolution No. 2009-023
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I. Nearly four in five (78%) Americans favor legislation that would make it easier
for workers to bargain with their employers according to recent research from
Peter Hart Associates; and,
J. When the freedom of workers to form a union is violated, wages decline, race
and gender pay gaps widen, workplace discrimination increases, and job
safety standards lapse; and
K. Federal legislation known as the Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 has
been introduced this year in the United States Congress in order to restore
workers' freedom to join unions.
Section 2. The City of Santa Ana City Council supports the Employee Free
Choice Act which would authorize the National Labor Relations Boards to certify a union
as the bargaining representative when a majority of employees voluntarily sign
authorizations designating that union to represent them; provide for first contract mediation
and arbitration; and establish meaningful penalties for violations for a worker's freedom to
choose a union. °:
Section 3. The City of Santa Ana City Council urges Congress to pass the
Employee Free Choice Act to protect and preserve for America's workers their freedom to
choose for themselves whether or not to form a union.
Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by
the City Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting
this Resolution.
ADOPTED this 4th day of May 2009.
APPROV ~S T FORM;
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Joseph~411~F1e-City Attorney
Resolution No. 2009-023
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AYES
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
Councilmembers: Alvarez, Bustamante, Martinez, Pulido,
Sarmiento (5)
Councilmembers:
Councilmembers:
None (0)
None 0
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers
Benavides, Tinaiero (2)
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, PATRICIA E. HEALY, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the
attached Resolution No. 2009-023 to be the original resolution adopted by the City
Council of the City of Santa Ana on May 4, 2009. _
/;
~~ _
Date: ~ l3 f~ -~" _ ~~-~ ~`'~ "
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
Resolution No. 2009-023
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