Senator Edwards voted many times for working mans legislation...
The Senator is a man who understands the workers right to a collective voice at their jobs, and has voted to protect the workers right to organize and have union representation...
Labor unions are vital for the future of American workers
We don't believe it's right that a man or woman could be fired from the job for trying to organize a union in the workplace, so that working people actually have a voice. And this is something I take very personally. My mother and father have health care today because of the unions. My younger brother is a card-carrying member of IBEW; he and his family have health care today because of the union. We need real labor law reform in this country.
Source: 2005 Take Back America Conference Jun 2, 2005
He also said...
Greater protection for unionization
I support job training programs, an increase in the minimum wage, greater protection for unionization, and greater help for Americans balancing work and families.
Source: 2004 Presidential National Political Awareness Test Mar 3, 2004
I really can't believe more people haven't picked up on this. John Edwards has actually had the courage to come out in favor of Unions, and in giving the working man more barganing power when it comes to dealing with the powerful managment legal machine...
Support unions; ban striker replacements
Labor has been a powerful force for good in this country and across the globe, and Edwards supports tougher penalties and stronger enforcement to protect workers' rights to organize and collectively bargain. Edwards also opposes permanent striker replacement because he believes we should not punish an employee with permanent job loss if he or she exercises a legally protected right to strike. Edwards has consistently earned high scores from labor unions for his votes on behalf of American workers
Source: Campaign website, johnedwards2004.com, "Key Issues" Jul 17, 2003
Senator John Edwards even voted to secure workers overtime protection...
Protect overtime pay protections.
Edwards signed a letter from 43 Senators to the Secretary of Labor
To: Labor Secretary Elaine Chao
Dear Secretary Chao:
We write to express our serious concerns about the Department's proposed regulation on white collar exemptions to the Fair Labor Standards Act. These sweeping changes could eliminate overtime pay protections for millions of American workers.
We urge you not to implement this new regulation that will end overtime protections for those currently eligible. Under current law, the FLSA discourages employers from scheduling overtime by making overtime more expensive. According to a GAO study, employees exempt from overtime pay are twice as likely to work overtime as those covered by the protections. Our citizens are working longer hours than ever before – longer than in any other industrial nation. At least one in five employees now has a work week that exceeds 50 hours. Protecting the 40-hour work week is vital to balancing work responsibilities and family needs. It is certainly not family friendly to require employees to work more hours for less pay.
Overtime protections clearly make an immense difference in preserving the 40-hour work week. Millions of employees depend on overtime pay to make ends meet and pay their bills for housing, food, and health care. Overtime pay often constitutes 20-25% of their wages. These workers will face an unfair reduction in their take-home pay if they can no longer receive their overtime pay.
We urge you not to go forward with any regulation that denies overtime pay protections to any of America's currently eligible hard-working men and women.
Source: Letter from 43 Senators to the Secretary of Labor 03-SEN4 on Jun 30, 2003
People I'm no blogger but I sure like writing about someone when I'm inspired and trust me this man inspires me...
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