As workers around the country continue to rise up across industries to demand better wages, benefits and working conditions, Congressman Andy Levin, former union organizer and member of the House Education and Labor Committee, led 45 of his colleagues in a letter to Doug Phelps, President and Executive Director of The Public Interest Network, underscoring the importance of good-faith engagement in the unionization process from both parties.
The lawmakers write:
"We write regarding reports we have receivedsurrounding the recent unionization of employees at The Public Interest Network (TPIN). According to the union's filings, 70 percent of eligible employees support unionization with the Office and Professional Employees International Union. We understand that the employees have requested that TPIN voluntarily recognize the union. We write to underscore the importance of good-faith engagement in the unionization process from both parties.
"The Public Interest Network does powerful work on federal, state, and local levels. The organization's employees make important contributions to our communities on climate justice, voting rights, and more. We believe this crucial work must continue.
"We hope the parties will reach a successful resolution together. As elected representatives, we believe a good-faith opportunity to negotiate between employers and employees is in the best interests of everyone involved."
The letter was signed by Reps. Alma Adams, Cori Bush, Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Kathy Castor, Judy Chu, Danny K. Davis, Madeleine Dean, Peter DeFazio, Rosa DeLauro, Adriano Espaillat, Jesús "Chuy" García, Sylvia Garcia, Jared Golden, Jimmy Gomez, Raúl Grijalva, Sheila Jackson Lee, Pramila Jayapal, Mondaire Jones, Marcy Kaptur, Ro Khanna, Barbara Lee, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Alan Lowenthal, Carolyn Maloney, James P. McGovern, Grace Meng, Kweisi Mfume, Jerrold Nadler, Marie Newman, Donald Norcross, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Frank Pallone, Donald Payne, Mark Pocan, Jamie Raskin, Tim Ryan, Linda Sánchez, Jan Schakowsky, Darren Soto, Thomas Suozzi, Mark Takano, Rashida Tlaib, Paul Tonko and Bonnie Watson Coleman.
Source:https://andylevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/levin-presses-public-interest-network-good-faith-engagement-unionization
