House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives

Labor Issues

Union Democracy

Committee Republicans are committed to ensuring Congress protects the democratic rights and responsibilities of rank-and-file union members, whether it’s giving them better tools to hold union leaders accountable for their actions or ensuring union bosses don’t dodge current worker protection laws by abusing the secret ballot process on decisions about whether to form a union. 

In the 111th Congress, Committee Republicans will enthusiastically fight Democrats' efforts to strip an employee of the right to choose – freely and anonymously – whether to unionize.  Committee Republicans also will work to protect the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, a 1996 law designed to serve as the first line of defense against union corruption.  It requires union leaders to disclose certain information to union members about their democratic rights, including information about member union dues and how they are spent, financial audits, strike authorizations, contract effects, disciplinary procedures, the election and removal of union officers, and other rights.

Press Releases

Democrats Don’t Have Time to Pass a Budget (June 24, 2010)

Kline Highlights New Venue for Americans to Speak Out on Education and Workplace Issues (May 25, 2010)

National Mediation Board Ruling Overturns More Than 75 Years of Workplace Election Policy (May 10, 2010)

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Member Views

When Union Bosses Say, “Jump” … (February 4, 2010)

ICYMI: Reps. Kline and Price Defend Workers’ Right to a Secret Ballot in The Washington Times (March 19, 2009)

McKeon Op-Ed in The Washington Examiner: Canada has Card Check Lessons for U.S. (March 12, 2009)

Fact Sheets

A Tale of Two Labor Bills: How Republicans and Democrats Differ on Workplace Democracy (July 30, 2009)

Bill Summary: Rewarding Achievement and Incentivizing Successful Employees – the RAISE Act (June 8, 2009)

Oppose the So-Called Employee Free Choice Act (March 26, 2009)

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Dear Colleagues

Don’t Be Misled: Card Check = No Secret Ballot (February 5, 2009)

74% of Voters Oppose the Employee Free Choice Act (February 2, 2009)

"Thank the Lord" for Secret Ballots (November 19, 2008)

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Left Turns

Unions Get A Free Pass in Democrat Effort to Restrict Free Speech (May 3, 2010)

Will the Culture of Union Favoritism Transform the National Labor Relations Board? (March 26, 2010)

Obama Administration Opens Another Back Door to the Culture of Union Favoritism (March 1, 2010)

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Committee Statements

Price Statement: Hearing on “H.R. 413, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009” (March 10, 2010)

Kline Statement: Hearing with U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis on “Strengthening the Economy and Improving the Lives of American Workers” (February 3, 2010)

Kline Statement: Republican Forum on “A Culture of Favoritism: The Obama Administration’s Labor Agenda” (January 21, 2010)

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