Labor Studies Assistant Professor Marquita Walker delivers Empolyee Free Choice Act peititon to Bayh's office

AFL-CIO representative Kaitlin DeCero (left) with Labor Studies Assistant Professor Marquita Walker at Sen. Evan Bayh's office

April 30, 2009 - Marquita Walker, an Assistant Professor of Labor Studies at the School of Social Work hand-delivered a petition Wednesday signed by Indiana academics in support of the Employee Free Choice Act to U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh’s Indianapolis office.

Walker was joined by Kaitlin DeCero, a representative of the AFL-CIO, in delivering the petition signed by 80 people urging Bayh to support the measure.

Bayh is seen as a critical vote on the act, which is expected to come up for a vote by late spring or early summer.

“Currently, there is a lengthy certification and election process,” workers face if they want to form a union at their workplace, Walker explained. “This would make it simpler for workers who wish to unionize to do so.”

The delivery of the petition is part of a national effort the AFL-CIO involving colleges and universities to urge Congress to support the act.

“I believe this is an important piece of legislation that will help workers all across the nation to be able to organize and gain their rights in the workplace,” Walker said of her reason to support the passage of the act.

For more information about Employee Free Choice Act activities in Indiana go to Indiana Employee Free Choice Act Blog

For more information contact Rob Schneider, School of Social Work, at (317) 278-0303 or at robschn@iupui.edu