[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 27, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H9512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CONGRESS SHOULD LET EMPLOYEES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

  (Mr. McKEON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, today the voices of the majority of American 
workers go unheard--not because American employers are oppressive, but 
because American law prohibits it. Under current labor law, employers 
and employees cannot work together to resolve important workplace 
issues that might involve terms and conditions of employment unless 
those employees are represented by a union.
  While it is legal for an employer to have a meeting or hold a 
conference with employees to discuss ideas in the abstract, it is 
illegal for an employer to follow through on any actual workplace 
changes developed in consultation with the employees, unless those 
workers are represented by a union. The 88 percent of the private 
sector work force that is not unionized is, therefore, not allowed to 
discuss issues which affect the conditions of their employment.
  The TEAM Act permits employee involvement in workplace 
decisionmaking. Companies want their employees to develop new methods 
and ideas for improving the workplace. It's about time we let employees 
speak for themselves.
  Vote in favor of H.R. 743, the TEAM Act.

                          ____________________