Price Statement on Introduction of Secret Ballot Protection Act
Legislation to Protect Workers’ Rights, Guarantee Secret Ballot Elections
Washington,
Feb 25, 2009 -
Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) issued the following statement after introducing the Secret Ballot Protection Act. The bill, authored by Rep. John Kline (R-MN), Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), and Chairman Price, guarantees the right to a secret ballot to workers deciding whether to unionize.
“The secret ballot is a pillar of American democracy,” said Chairman Price. “Unfortunately, congressional Democrats have said they are willing to throw the secret ballot aside in order to advance a political agenda and expand the influence of Big Labor in the workplace. Forcing a worker’s decision to be made public would open the door for coercive and intimidating tactics – from both union and employer.
“With the introduction of the Secret Ballot Protection Act, Republicans have vowed to preserve the fundamental right to keep the personal decision to join a union a private matter. We must not allow workers’ rights and individual liberty to be trampled to appease special interests. We are offering American workers the peace of mind that comes from knowing important decisions will not be made with someone looking over their shoulder.”
Note: The Secret Ballot Protection Act protects the rights of workers to have secret ballot elections when determining whether to form a union. It prevents unionization based solely on “card check,” a process that requires only a simple majority of worker signatures on cards without any privacy in order to unionize a workplace. The Secret Ballot Protection Act also bars recognition of a union that was formed without a secret ballot election. For more information, click here.
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