ABC is holding a phone drive on Thursday, October 29th from 8 am to 4 pm to raise funds for the Free Enterprise Alliance (FEA), the issue-advocacy arm of ABC. The FEA’s mission is to educate ABC members, their employees, elected officials and the general public about what is important to open competition. ABC has a one day fundraising goal of $7,500.
Member volunteers have the option of either working the 8 am to 12 noon shift, or 12 noon to 4 pm shift. Phone numbers, talking points, scripts and other directions will be provided. Members simply need to RSVP, stop by the ABC office on October 29th and bring their cell phones.
The primary focus of FEA funds in 2009 is to stop the Employee Free Choice Act, or EFCA. While negotiations are ongoing in WashingtonDC, the final bill will likely no longer possess the “card check” aspect of the bill. However, ABC and the open shop community still fiercely oppose the legislation, citing an expedited union election schedule of five to ten days after a union files a petition with the National Labor Relations Board that will give employers less time to educate their employees about the positive and negative aspects of unionization. Increased penalties for companies that violate labor law and a mandatory binding interest requirement are also problematic.
If you are willing to volunteer a morning or afternoon of your time to fight this costly, unnecessary legislation, please contact Aran Buchan at (425) 646-8000.