Kucinich, Democratic Leaders Urge Gov. Davis To Support California Arbitration Law
The following is a press release from September 5, 2003, by Kucinich's office in Congress
***
Kucinich, Democratic Leaders Urge Gov. Davis To Support California Arbitration Law
Kucinich Joined By Sens. Kennedy and Feingold;
Reps. Conyers, Miller, Frank, Filner, Grijalva, Lee and Woolsey
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) was joined today by Senators Kennedy and Feingold and Representatives Conyers, George Miller, Frank, Filner, Lee, Grijalva and Woolsey in sending a letter to California Governor Gray Davis urging him to sign legislation to protect the civil rights of workers.
The letter urges Governor Davis to sign the a bill, A.B.1715, passed by the State Legislature, that would prohibit employers from requiring, as a condition of employment, employees to sign mandatory arbitration agreements regarding civil rights claims.
The letter states,
"We urge you to sign A.B.1715 and ensure the integrity of the many civil rights laws you have already signed into law, supporting the EEOC and all of the civil rights and labor groups that are working so hard to protect these fundamental democratic values."
In the next few weeks Kucinich, and more than 50 other Democratic House members, will introduce the Preservation of Civil Rights Protections Act of 2003. Senators Kennedy and Feingold will introduce an identical bill in the Senate. The legislation, broader than the bill passed in the California, would require that any agreement to arbitrate an employment claim arising under any Federal statue be made post-dispute, in order to ensure that the agreement and waiver of rights is truly knowing and voluntary.
The lawmakers continued in their letter,
"We view this battle against mandatory arbitration of workplace claims to be a fundamental issue of worker and civil rights. We intend to forcefully carry on the fight for the integrity of our civil rights and labor laws in Congress, in the courts, and with the public. Based on your long commitment to civil rights, we hope you can join us in this fight."
A.B. 1715 was passed by the California State Legislature on August 28, 2003. Governor Davis has until Monday, September 8, 2003, to sign the bill.
Kucinich is Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee.
TEXT OF LETTER:
September 5, 2003
Dear Governor Davis:
California undoubtedly has the strongest civil rights laws in the country. But those laws, like our federal civil rights laws, have no real meaning if workers lose the right to have the law enforced correctly. In the next few weeks at least 50 Democratic House members will be introducing the Preservation of Civil Rights Protections Act of 2003. Senators Kennedy, Feingold and Boxer will introduce an identical bill in the Senate. Our legislation would require that any agreement to arbitrate an employment claim arising under any Federal statute be made post-dispute, in order to ensure that the agreement and waiver of rights is truly knowing and voluntary.
We understand that your Department of Fair Employment and Housing and AARP sponsored significant, though much narrower legislation in California, AB 1715. That bill only applies to discrimination claims and unlike ours does not prohibit pre-dispute agreements to arbitrate discrimination claims that are entered into voluntarily. Nevertheless, AB 1715 reflects the concerns raised by the Republican and Democratic Commissioners at the EEOC, who unanimously issued a compelling policy statement declaring that mandatory arbitration was inconsistent with the purposes of the civil rights laws and interfered with their ability to fight discrimination. Indeed, the EEOC, under the Bush Administration, just forcefully argued their position in EEOC v Luce Forward that terminating an employee for refusing to sign an arbitration clause was illegal retaliation.
As you may know, 14 House members filed a successful amicus brief urging the 9th Circuit to rehear the Luce Forward case en banc. We view this battle against mandatory arbitration of workplace claims to be a fundamental issue of worker and civil rights. We intend to forcefully carry on the fight for the integrity of our civil rights and labor laws in Congress, in the courts, and with the public. Based on your long commitment to civil rights, we hope you can join us in this fight.
We urge you to sign AB1715 and ensure the integrity of the many civil rights laws you have already signed into law, supporting the EEOC and all of the civil rights and labor groups that are working so hard to protect these fundamental democratic values.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Subscribe to this blog's feed
Comments
Today, September 12 th 2003 is a day that Howard Dean is being beaten up by all the jews leading this country for taking a Pro Palestine stance. Yes, you heard me right. I am a Muslim from New York and you are not help the goal of the majority of muslims by supporting this web site. The Majority of muslims want Dean for President. I think they all have a valid point. Kucinch is going no where any time soon, Give up this web site.
Posted by: lynn Zaman | September 12, 2003 08:44 AM
I'm sorry that you find the expression of different views to be threatening. I'm sorry that you are not willing to work with others.
Posted by: Al-Munaqabah | September 12, 2003 11:05 AM