American Rights at Work
American Rights at Work (ARW) is a U.S.-based group which describes its vision as "a nation where the freedom of workers to organize unions and bargain collectively with employers is guaranteed and promoted." [1]
ARW is a member of the Business Ethics Network and profiled in the WiserEarth database here.
Contents
What they do
According to their website, they:
- Build coalitions, perform research, public relations, policy analysis, and advocacy
- Investigate and expose workers' rights abuses and the inadequacy of U.S. labor law
- Stimulate debate about the state of workers' rights among journalists, policymakers, advocacy groups, and the public
- Promote public policy that protects workers from hostile employers and weak laws that impede their rights to form unions and collectively bargain
- Publicize success stories of profitable companies and public agencies that respect workers' rights and build innovative partnerships with unions[1]
Resources they use
- Publications: they produce reports, case studies, issue briefs, and educational materials based on research
- Workers' Rights Clearinghouse: their national database features cases of workers whose rights have been violated during union organizing campaigns or contract negotiations with employers
- Workers' Rights Watch: Eye on the NLRB: This feature monitors and analyzes decisions of the National Labor Relations Board
- Online Advocacy & Resources: website for news, action alerts, and reports for those who want to learn more about the issues or ways to get involved[1]
Countering business-funded campaigns
In 2008, American Rights At Work had an ad campaign showing corporate "fat cats" opposing workers. This was a campaign to promote labor-backed legislation and was to counter business-funded campaigns. Will Evans of NPR writes, "But over the last week, American Rights At Work spent only $235,000 on ads in five key states. That's less than half what the other side — represented by the Employee Freedom Action Committee — spent last week ($563,000). And Employee Freedom has been beating the drum for a month longer." The Employee Freedom Action Committee is a front group established and run by Rick Berman, a Washington DC lobbyist with a history of creating industry-funded front groups.[2]
Lobbying
The group spent $438,000 for lobbying in 2009.[3]
Personnel
Staff:[4]
- Kimberly Freeman Brown, Executive Director
- David Bonior, Chair, former Democratic U.S. Representative from Michigan
- Liz Cattaneo, Communications Director
- Erin Johansson, Deputy Director of Research
- Jane Norman, Director of Programs and Partnerships
- Nikki Daruwala, Director, Socially Responsible Business Program
Board of Directors:[5]
- David Bonior, Chair, American Rights at Work
- Jack Marco, Treasurer, Chairman, Marco Consulting Group
- Julian Bond, Chairman, NAACP
- Wade Henderson, Executive Director, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
- Janet Murguia, President & CEO, National Council of La Raza
- Carl Pope, Executive Director, Sierra Club
- Imam Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini, Leader, The Islamic Center of America
- John J. Sweeney, President Emeritus, AFL-CIO
- Richard L. Trumka, President, AFL-CIO
Contact details
1100 17th Street NW, Suite 950
Washington DC 20036
Email: info AT americanrightsatwork.org
Phone: 202-822-2127
Fax: 202-822-2168
Website: http://www.americanrightsatwork.org
Resources
Related SourceWatch articles
- Center for Union Facts (front group)
- Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (front group)
- Employee Free Choice Act
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 American Rights at Work, "About Us: American Rights at Work: Advancing Democracy in the American Workplace", accessed December 2007.
- ↑ Will Evans, "Labor-Funded Group Targets Republican Senators", NPR, September 9, 2008.
- ↑ American Rights at Work lobbying expenses, Open Secrets, accessed November 2010.
- ↑ Staff, American Rights at Work, accessed November 2010.
- ↑ Board of Directors, American Rights at Work, accessed November 2010.
External articles
- Jason Linkins, "Ad Promoting Employee Free Choice Act Directed At Journos ", The Huffington Post, January 30, 2009.
