[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 153 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PASSAGE OF TEAM ACT MAKES SENSE

                                 ______


                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 28, 1995

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the House passed H.R. 743, the 
Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995. This legislation 
represents a symbolic end to the era of confrontation between worker 
and employer and the dawning of a new era of mutual participation that 
will help secure our status as a world leader for decades to come.
  Gone are the days when management's greatest adversary was located on 
the floor of its own company. Today, corporations, such as IBM, Texas 
Instruments, and Eastman Kodak, indicate that they could not compete 
internationally if it were not for tapping the creativity and knowledge 
of their own labor forces.
  Unfortunately, rulings issued by National Labor Relations Board 
prohibited labor-management cooperation committees under the National 
Labor Relations Act. In essence, the NLRB barred employees from 
participating in the decisionmaking process for issues that affect them 
directly. This, Mr. Speaker, is a throwback to the 1930's where union 
busting was common place and employees were merely cogs in the machine. 
It is inconsistent with the 1990 workplace where the benefit of 
employee management cooperation is widely recognized by both sides.
  The TEAM Act was created in an attempt to clarify to the NLRB and 
other Federal agencies the legality of these employee involvement 
structures. It permits an employer to interact with employees on 
matters of mutual interest. This legislation does not impede the right 
of employees to select their own representatives or their own 
bargaining agent. In fact, provisions were included in the act that 
specifically state no labor-management cooperation committee can engage 
in collective bargaining nor act as exclusive representatives of the 
employees.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be a cosponsor of legislation that will 
increase communication between management and employees. This can only 
enhance the working conditions and productivity of companies and their 
employees. I believe the TEAM Act is a well-crafted vehicle to usher in 
a new era in employee management relations and congratulate my 
colleagues for writing and passing this legislation.

                          ____________________