Sessions Opposes the Worker Intimidation Act
Sessions Opposes the Worker Intimidation Act
U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) today made the following statement regarding H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act of 2007:
"The Employee Free Choice Act of 2007, or more accurately entitled the Worker Intimidation Act, will provide for the unprecedented intimidation of employees by union bosses under a fundamentally anti-democratic process known as "Card-Check" - a process which will deny employees a private ballot in determining whether they wish to join a union in a government-supervised election.
"Supporters of this legislation argue that the Employee Free Choice Act "improves working conditions," while providing no factual evidence to support this claim.
"This legislation is really about shielding unions from competition, and stacking the deck in favor of union bosses at the expense of workers. It will give union bosses a potential avenue to harass, coerce and deceive workers into union representation without regard to improving their working conditions.
"For example, according to the House Committee testimony of a former Card-Check organizer,[1] union organizers are encouraged to employ egregious practices in a Card-Check campaign, including sending two or more union workers directly to workers' homes, using personal information for a campaign "blitz," and intimidating workers through harassment, lies and fear tactics. These heavy-handed tactics often lead workers to sign the cards simply to make the harassment stop.
"By favoring union bosses looking to pad their dues-paying membership, H.R. 800 undermines our free enterprise system in America as a new government intervention into private, personal decision-making.
"This bill is a blatant attack on the fundamentals principles of our democracy. American voters have the right to vote by a private ballot, and American workers should be afforded no less."
The Employee Free Choice Act of 2007 passed the House by a vote of 241 -185 on March 1, 2007.
Source