American Rights at Work

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American Rights at Work (ARAW) is a U.S. nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates for workers and their right to form unions without interference.

ARAW is a leading labor policy and advocacy organization dedicated to educating the American public about the barriers that workers face when they attempt to exercise their rights to organize and engage in collective bargaining. The organization conducts research into United States labor law and the National Labor Relations Board as they relates to unions, employer actions in union organizing and collective bargaining campaigns, and anti-union consultants (popularly known as "union busters").

ARAW was established as an "allied group" of the AFL-CIO in 2003. "Allied groups" are organizations which are established by the AFL-CIO, but have a more informal relationship to the federation. AWaR, for example, receives a large percentage of its funding from the AFL-CIO, but its board of directors is not controlled by the labor group.

The organization was initially named the "National Rights at Work Committee," a play on the name of the National Right to Work Committee. But when that anti-union organization complained, the organization's current name was adopted.^[1]

In June 2005, ARAW issued a report[1] which strongly criticized American labor law for failing to protect workers' rights during NLRB-sponsored representation elections. A follow-up report[2] that documented the aggressive use of legal and illegal anti-union tactics by employers was released six months later. The follow-up report generated widespread media attention.^[2]

The organization also produces a weekly radio show focusing on workers' rights issues called Workin' It, hosted by Latina comedienne Jackie Guerra. The show is syndicated by Jones Radio Networks.

The chair of the organization, David Bonior, took a leave of absence in December 2006 to chair the presidential election campaign of former U.S. Senator John Edwards.^[3]

The executive director of ARAW is Mary Beth Maxwell.

[edit] Notes

^ Greenhouse, "Labor, Under the Gun, Meets to Plot Strategy," New York Times, February 25, 2003.
^ For example, see Knowles, "Report Says Deck Stacked Against Union Organization," Chicago Sun Times, December 7, 2005; Gaffney, "American Laws Violate Workers' Rights," Detroit News, December 16, 2005.
^ Pickler, "Edwards Taps Bonior to Lead Future Presidential Campaign," Associated Press, December 5, 2006.

[edit] References

"American Rights At Work: Labor laws not strong enough." Workers Independent News. July 7, 2005.
Castillo, Juan. "Workers at Labor Forum Recount Tales of Abuse by Their Employers." Austin American-Statesman. October 19, 2005.
"Democracy at Comcast, Free Choices at Work - Making the Case for the Employee Free Choice Act." Centre for American Progress.
Gaffney, Mark. "American Laws Violate Workers' Rights." Detroit News. December 16, 2005.
Gallagher, John. "Laboring After Congress; Bonior Builds Solidarity Stumping for Union Cause." Detroit Free Press. April 10, 2004.
Greenhouse, Steven. "Labor, Under the Gun, Meets to Plot Strategy." New York Times. February 25, 2003.
"Human Rights at Work." The Nation. December 26, 2005.
Knowles, Francine. "Report Says Deck Stacked Against Union Organization." Chicago Sun Times. December 7, 2005.
Landrum Jr., Jonathan. "American Rights at Work to Investigate Abuses at Workplace." Associated Press. October 14, 2005.
Lester, Will. "AFL-CIO Leaders Recruit Groups to Get Out Word About Workers' Plight." Associated Press. October 25, 2005.
Pickler, Nedra. "Edwards Taps Bonior to Lead Future Presidential Campaign." Associated Press. December 5, 2006.