Realizing that a majority of educators at one of its schools wanted to form a union, the Devereux Foundation did what a Cornell University study found almost every employer does in a similar situation — try to stop the union from coming in.

In the weeks leading up to the organizing vote, school administrators sent out anti-union e-mails and held one-on-one meetings with employees.

The Employee Free Choice Act was proposed more than two years ago by a bipartisan coalition because current labor laws are tilted in favor of employers.

If approved, the legislation would simplify the union certification process, strengthen penalties against offending employers and require mediation and arbitration to help employers and employees reach a first contract in a reasonable period of time.

It would impose monetary penalties on employers found to willfully or repeatedly violate employees' rights during an organizing campaign or during the bargaining for a first contract.

The Employee Free Choice Act was introduced in the House and Senate March 10. President Obama has vowed to sign it into law.

You can help give more workers the chance to form unions to negotiate for better wages, benefits and working conditions.

Go to www.freechoiceact.org/page/s/aft to sign a petition or call your federal lawmakers and urge their support when the act comes before them.