[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H8816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2000
TEAMWORK FOR EMPLOYEES AND MANAGERS ACT OF 1995--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE 
          PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 104-251)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McInnis) laid before the House the 
following veto message from the President of the United States:

To the House of Representatives:
  I am returning herewith without my approval, H.R. 743, the ``Teamwork 
for Employees and Managers Act of 1995.'' This act would undermine 
crucial employee protections.
  I strongly support workplace practices that promote cooperative 
labor-management relations. In order for the United States to remain 
globally competitive into the next century, employees must recognize 
their stake in their employer's business, employers must value their 
employees' labor, and each must work in partnership with the other. 
Cooperative efforts, by promoting mutual trust and respect, can 
encourage innovation, improve productivity, and enhance the efficiency 
and performance of American workplaces.
  Current law provides for a wide variety of cooperative workplace 
efforts. It permits employers to work with employees in quality circles 
to improve quality, efficiency, and productivity. Current law also 
allows employers to delegate significant managerial responsibilities to 
employee work teams, sponsor brainstorming sessions, and solicit 
employee suggestions and criticisms. Today, 30,000 workplaces across 
the country has employee involvement plans. According to one recent 
survey, 96 percent of large employers already have established such 
programs.
  I strongly support further labor-management cooperation within the 
broad parameters allowed under current law. To the extent that recent 
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decisions have created uncertinty 
as to the scope of permissible cooperation, the NLRB, in the exercise 
of its independent authority, should provide guidance to clarify the 
broad legal boundaries of the labor-management teamwork. The Congress 
rejected a more narrowly defined proposal designed to accomplish that 
objective.
  Instead, this legislation, rather than promoting gueuine teamwork, 
would undermine the system of collective bargaining that has served 
this country so well for many decades. It would do this by allowing 
employers to establish company unions where no union currently exists 
and permitting company dominated unions where employees are in the 
process of determining whether to be represented by a union. Rather 
than encouraging true workplace cooperation, this bill would abolish 
protections that ensure independent and democratic representation in 
the workplace.
  True cooperative efforts must be based on must partnerships. A 
context of mutual trust and respect encourages the prospect or 
achieving workplace innovation, improved productivity, and enhanced 
efficiency and workplace performance. Any ambiguities in he situation 
should be resolved, but without weakening or eliminating the 
fundamental right of employees to collective bargaining.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, July 30, 1996.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The objections of the President will be 
spread at large upon the Journal, and the message and bill will be 
printed as a House document.
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that further 
consideration of the veto message on the bill, H.R. 743, be postponed 
until Wednesday, July 31, 1996.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McInnis). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.

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