The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on December 18 on the pending Arbitration Fairness Act of 2013 (S.878 / H.R. 1844.) This bill is critical to employees, nursing home residents, credit card holders, banking customers, and other consumers – virtually all Americans. Forced arbitration language is becoming commonplace in employment handbooks and consumer agreements. Persons who agree to forced arbitration typically never know they forfeited their rights until a dispute arises.
Forced arbitration takes away the rights of the employee or consumer to seek redress in our courts. Forced arbitration favors Big Business who gets to call the shots on where, when, how, and who decides the employee’s or consumer’s dispute. Forget about an unbiased jury or judge, discovery procedures to uncover evidence, and reasonable costs. Without passage of the Arbitration Fairness Act, Big Business gets to eliminate most employment civil rights and consumer protections. Congress must protect Americans from forced arbitration and restore Americans’ rights to seek justice in our courts with unbiased jurors, not hired arbitrators paid for by Big Business.
Please email your U.S. Senator and Representative today to urge passage of the Arbitration Fairness Act. You may also contact Richard Cordray, the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
