While more American workers want to join unions, the Bush administration has already announced that the new bill to allow workers to form unions by signing up, instead of voting, would be vetoed. His threat coincided with the new bill as it advanced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Democratic-controlled House Education and Labor Committee voted along party lines, 26-19, to approve the bill, the bill if passed would require employers to recognize unions if the majority of workers signed pro-union cards. The Bush administration opposes this bill, expressing their concerns that
Secret ballots are needed to prevent possible worker intimidation. The propaganda that the Bush administration is using, is completely absurd, these are remarks coming from an administration that has manipulated two major presidential elections.
The Bush spokesperson on this one Vice president Chaney was quoted," Our administration rejects any attempt to short-circuit the rights of workers," We will defend their right to vote yes or no by secret ballot, and their right to fair bargaining."
WHAT A LIAR, this whole administration has denounced unions from their first day in office, they have demonstrated their hate for unions by, pushing for supervisory labels to all workers who has a person working under them in order to squelch union numbers, union voices and union benefits. THE BUSH ADMINSTRATION IS NO FRIEND TO THE AMERICAN WORKER.
To form a union under current law, a majority of workers must vote in favor of one in a government-supervised election. Sign-ups are permitted, but an employer can reject it and force a ballot, which often takes several weeks but can take months. I say let the employees decide whether they want to be union; it is not the employers right to decide for them.
The Employee Free Choice Act are the backers of the bill, argue that the election process is inherently unfair because union organizers can be denied access to the workplace, while bosses can require workers to attend anti-union meetings.
There has been documentation in some instances that workers who are pro-union and who are actively seeking union representation has been unfairly fired in the days or months leading up to a union vote, with the new bill, if passed, these kind of anti union actions could be stopped.
The bill also would for the first time make labor law violators subject to civil penalties, again a step in the right direction for all workers in America.
The majority of Democrats support and cosponsored this bill along with a handful of minority Republicans.
I believe that this Bill is a step in the right direction for labor in America, but as long as the Bush administration holds office, the steps taken for and achieved on behalf of labor will be slow. As for many issues that the Bush administration has tampered with, the benefit to our workers, society, poor people and the environment has suffered tremendously these past 6 years. Hopefully with the democrats in control, things may start to turn around for AMERICA, and with an election for President on its way in two short years America has an opportunity to make a change for the better.