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."

ARW is a member of the Business Ethics Network and profiled in the WiserEarth database here.

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

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

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.

Lobbying
The group spent $438,000 for lobbying in 2009.

Personnel
Staff:
 * 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:
 * 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

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Center for Union Facts (front group)
 * Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (front group)
 * Employee Free Choice Act

External articles

 * Jason Linkins, "Ad Promoting Employee Free Choice Act Directed At Journos", The Huffington Post, January 30, 2009.