Procedures

• SET-UP:

  This lesson offers several options for you to use with your students whether you are teaching in class, using a hybrid model, or engaging through distance learning. It can be completed in steps as a class, as a jigsaw activity or students can move at their own pace and complete the activities independently.

  You can post links to the videos in the lesson along with the related handout and engage in discussion to share responses on a discussion board or learning management system.

  You can also save and share the following document for students to use with this lesson.

  Handout: Employee Free Choice Act (Google Doc)

  In Google, choose "File" then "Make a Copy" to get your own copy. You can make any needed adjustments in the instructions such as which activities students need to complete, when it is due, etc. and then make it available to them via Google.

• INTRODUCTION:

  Use the barometer activity (Facing History and Ourselves) to help students determine their position on labor unions in America. Read the following several statements out loud and ask students to move to the appropriate corner of the room (strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree). Have several students share why they placed themselves in each area of the room.

  Labor unions are critical to building a strong middle class in America.

  Without labor unions, workers will be exploited and taken advantage of by upper management.

  Labor unions, due to their ability to strike and collect union dues, have too much power in American society and politics.

  If a worker doesn’t want to pay union dues, they should be able to refuse to join a union.

  It should be easier for workers to join unions in the United States.

• EXPLORATION:

  Students can view the following videos individually, with a partner or in a small group to jigsaw this activity. Have them choose one or more of the following video clips to view and use the handout to take notes and respond to the accompanying questions.

  Video Clip 1: Employee Free Choice Act Discussion (4:54)

  Ken Silverstein discusses the lobbying effort against the EFCA.

  • What is the Employee Free Choice Act? What is the historical context around the role of unions in the United States?

  • How have business interests undermined the EFCA?

• Video Clip 2: Labor Economist Discusses Employee Free Choice Act (1:24)

  Ron Blackwell, economist at the AFL-CIO discusses the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act.

  • How would the Employee Free Choice change how a union is formed?

  • How will EFCA help workers?

• Video Clip 3: Ernest Istook and the Employee Free Choice Act (3:26)

  Ernest Istook, former Republican Congressman, discusses his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act.

  • What does Chris Chafe mean when he says ,“The rules are stacked against workers?”

  • How might workers be harmed if card check is legalized?

• Video Clip 4: President Obama and Employee Free Choice Act (3:01)

  President Obama, at a town hall meeting, discusses organized labor, card check, and the Employee Free Choice Act.

  • Why do you think President Obama is concerned about the decline of union membership?

  • According to President Obama, why do businesses object to card check? S

• APPLICATION:

  Students engage in a silent conversation centered around topics of the labor and Employee Free Choice Act. The prompts are located below:

  • Should the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) become law?

  • What are arguments for and against the EFCA?

  • What should the role of government be with organized labor and what type of relationship should the government have with organized labor?

• EXIT TICKET:

  Have students respond to the following prompt:

  What arguments, for and against, the Employee Choice Act do you find to be the most persuasive? Why?