Really, Republicans, why are you wasting our time?
In a typical anti-union move by Republicans, they have submitted a Senate resolution (S.J. Res. 36) that would reverse a new National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule that will speed up workplace votes on the formation of unions.
Here’s the resolution. It’s short:
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to representation election procedures.Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to representation election procedures (published at 76 Fed. Reg. 80138 (December 22, 2011)), and such rule shall have no force or effect.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid issued this statement this morning:
A new rule from the National Labor Relations Board will remove unnecessary obstacles to workers’ rights to form a union. I urge all my colleagues to vote tomorrow against the resolution of disapproval that would strike down this commonsense rule. The new rule doesn’t change or do anything to encourage unions, but it doesn’t discourage them either. It just gives workers the ability to vote yes or no while minimizing the chances of intimidation and stalling.
President Obama issued a statement today saying he will veto this legislation if it reaches his desk.
STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY
S.J. Res. 36 – Providing for Congressional Disapproval of the Rule Submitted by the National Labor Relations Board Relating to Representation Election Procedures
(Sen. Enzi, R-WY, and 44 cosponsors)
The Administration strongly opposes passage of S.J. Res. 36, which would overturn recent commonsense measures adopted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to streamline and modernize workplace elections and ensure that workers deciding if they wish to be represented by a union have a fair vote in a reasonable amount of time. The Administration is committed to supporting the right of workers to join and participate in a union and bargain for fair wages, benefits and a safe workplace. These rights are fundamental to better conditions for American workers and to an open, just, economically fair and prosperous society. S.J. Res. 36 attacks these bedrock American values.If the President is presented with a Resolution of Disapproval that would reverse these measures adopted by the NLRB, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the Resolution.
This is another clear demonstration that President Obama and his administration support the labor movement and have their back when Republicans try to take away the gains they’ve made in the past few decades.
[Image credit: Anne C. Savage, used with permission.]
