The choice for employees to unionize is right now before the U.S. Congress. Sunday, local Nebraskans rallied to urge Senators Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns' support of the Employee Free Choice Act. 

The signs speak out to passerby's on South Locust in Grand Island. Union Freedom Riders hope their shirts speak out to Nebraska's U.S. senators: 'Back Off Corporate Greed.' 

"We really believe that Wall Street has taken over D.C. and we really want Senators Johanns and Nelson to stand up for working families," Jane Kleeb said, of SEIU's Change That Works Project.

Kleeb and Change to Win Nebraska president Jim Sheard are taking working families' voices from Grand Island to Omaha, picking up supporters along the way. 

"Employers have all the power," Sheard said. "They decide if employees unionize or not. We need to have the employees decide if they want to be in a union."

Opponents say the Employee Free Choice Act will hurt businesses. If the majority of employees sign the card, a union would be established. They say that takes away the secret-ballot election process. 

"That is simply not true," Kleeb said. The bill would not take away any secret ballots, but put meaningful penalities in place for employers who don't give employees a contract."

Kleeb said Johanns and Nelson remain non-committal on the issue, though Nelson said in March the bill would need to be modified to garner his consideration. Kleeb is hopeful his
voting record on working family issues could lean in their favor.

"One example is the S-CHIP for children, another example is the stimulus package, which he voted for," she said.

Kleeb said Nelson is likely to vote for cloture, to give the bill a floor debate. Johanns, however, is why they're on their way to Omaha...with their mission on their backs. Jim Sheard's mission, engraved into his motorcycle.

"We're looking for Johanns to give this bill an honest debate," Kleeb said.

Reporter's Notes:  Stacia Kalinoski:

The Union Freedom Ride stopped in Lincoln to rally at Sen. Nelson's office, then they were off to Freemont to pick up more riders. They then travelled to Omaha to rally at Sen. Johann's office before ending the day with a Union Freedom Ride Celebration. Sheard said he didn't know how many riders to expect.