Photo Published (aka Donated)
The San Diego News Network just published a photo of mine for an article about the Employee Free Choice Act–a federal bill that would ease the process of union organizing. See the story here.
AFL-CIO member pickets at Cesar Chavez Day "Journey for Better Jobs" march on March 31
I wish I could say I got paid for this photo, but in fact, I donated it. Don’t get me wrong; I did try to pitch a few photos to the political editor at SDNN after hearing from my old boss at Service Employees International Union Local 221 that she was working on this story, but the editor informed me that SDNN doesn’t have a budget for photos. When I got her email response, I was torn; I had a good photo about a polarizing national issue that I could have pitched elsewhere. But I also emphathize with SDNN, which is trying to do a service for San Diego on a low budget. The photo was set at the Cesar Chavez Day “Journey for Better Jobs” march last month in San Diego so I thought, what better place for the photo than an article about the Employee Free Choice Act in a San Diego publication? I decided I’d donate the photo as long as my name was published on the site. What can I say, I’m a pushover.
AFL-CIO member shows his patriotism and support for the EFCA
I should note that I was a bit dissapointed with this article. I have a special attachment to the Employee Free Choice Act because I worked for an SEIU campaign called “Change that Works” which is currently fighting to pass the bill as well as healthcare reform. Needless to say, I learned a lot about the process of labor organizing, and I don’t think the SDNN article accurately described what the bill would do. Basically the Employee Free Choice Act would make three changes to current labor law: 1.) give all workers the opportunity to form unions through majority sign up 2.) guarantee a contract by allowing arbitration to take place if workers don’t acquire a contract after three months and 3.) stiffen penalties against bosses who illegally threaten, harrass or fire workers.
Right now, all American workers have the opportunity to join labor unions in theory, but the reality is that many employees are unable to form unions due to harrassment, intimidation or illegal firings. In other words, corporate bosses don’t want to share any of their profits with the workers who help create it so they’ll do anything to block a union from entering the worksite. I have personally met five people who have been fired for trying to organize their workplace. This is against the law, yet it happens in 25 percent of all organizing drives. The Nation published a more comprehensive article on the subject back in January. Hmm, maybe I’ll try to freelance my own piece about the bill. What do you say?
