National Union Leaders, 1,000 Arkansas Workers Expected at Grassroots Mobilization in Little Rock to Urge Congress Approve Employee Free Choice

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 9 USW-AR-mobilization
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This Saturday, July 11 in Little Rock, national labor leaders and more than 1,000 local workers from across the state will be mobilizing outside Central High School with civil rights activists in support of the Employee Free Choice Act that's pending in Congress to restore workers' freedom to join a union and bargain for a better life.

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USW International President Leo W. Gerard; Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer; and Arlene Holt Baker, the first African-American executive vice president of the AFL-CIO and widely known civil rights leader, will join other national labor, civil rights, and faith leaders in an historic march and rally to call on the Arkansas congressional delegation to support the employee free choice bill.

IBEW President Ed Hill, CWA Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Rechenbach, will also be participating with their union represented workers in the state as a first of its kind labor rights demonstration in Little Rock on July 11.

Early Saturday morning, workers will begin traveling from send-off points in Texarkana, Ft. Smith, Pine Bluff and other cities in the state to meet at Central High School. They will remember the sacrifices and contribution of the Little Rock 9 to freedom for all Americans. Then, led by Arkansas ministers, the assembled hundreds will march to the nearby State Capitol Building in Little Rock to urge the Arkansas congressional delegation standup for workers and vote for the Employee Free Choice Act.

After the rally on the steps of the state capitol, the marchers will gather at the adjacent Arkansas Education Association for an old-fashioned Arkansas catfish fry.

WHO: Speakers include AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka; Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker; USW President Leo W. Gerard; IBEW President Ed Hill, and CWA Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Rechenbach,.

WHAT: Rally and March for the Employee Free Choice Act

WHEN: Saturday July 11th, 1:00 pm, CDST

WHERE: Central High School, 1500 S Park St, Little Rock

VISUALS: Organizers expect 1,000 workers from across the state assembled and marching in colorful t-shirts with banners. Speakers and workers are available for interviews.



SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)