[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 118 (Friday, August 19, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                     AN INSIGHTFUL OPINION OF S. 55

 Mr. REID. Mr. President, the Senate recently considered S. 55, 
the Workplace Fairness Act. I believe one of the more insightful 
opinions on this bill appeared in a recent column in the Las Vegas Sun. 
The author if this column is the former two-term Governor of Nevada, 
the Honorable Mike O'Callaghan.

                             One Man's View

                         (By Mike O'Callaghan)

       Why would anybody be surprised by Titanium Metals Corp. 
     hiring permanent replacements for the people they have kept 
     on the picket lines for nine months? From the very beginning 
     of this labor-management dispute, it was obvious that the 
     company invited the strike and had no intention of settling 
     it with the workers.
       A couple of days before the strike was called, I remember 
     telling a Union leader that they were purposely being led 
     down that path by management. Timet is a giant corporation 
     that has other concerns than the people who have lived and 
     worked here for several decades.
       There has been a lot of pain and suffering by the local 
     workers and their families during the past several months. It 
     doesn't look like things are going to get any better during 
     the remainder of this year. As far as Timet is concerned 
     things may never get better, but what goes around comes 
     around.
       The actions of companies such as Timet and the Frontier 
     Hotel and Casino may hurt local workers today but in the long 
     run their actions will encourage Congress to pass some 
     corrective legislation. Labor and management conflicts and 
     legislation have been on a national roller coaster since the 
     turn of the century. As power shifts from one side to the 
     other legislation is produced to return a semblance of 
     balance.
       Although the 1994 striker replacement ban appears to have 
     died in the U.S.-Senate this year, it will eventually pass 
     before the year 2000 if more companies take advantage of the 
     present legal vacuum to punish their employees.
       Right now the conduct of a couple of local companies 
     doesn't have a negative impact on a healthy Nevada economy. 
     If economic conditions and employer attitudes change, so will 
     the attitudes of the public.
       Just as in the past, when some union leaders abused their 
     powers, legislation was passed to prevent the abuses and send 
     some offenders to jail. Abusive employers have felt the same 
     legal whip in the past and will again in the future if they 
     overstep the bounds of what Americans feel is fair and 
     just.

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