[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 37 (Monday, March 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the b1ll (H.R. 800) to 
     amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an 
     efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist 
     labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injuctions for 
     unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for 
     other purposes;

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support 
of the Employee Free Choice Act.
  Strengthening unions results in a stronger and more vibrant middle 
class, which is something we can all support.
  Madam Chairman, we have heard arguments about how this legislation is 
taking away a worker's right to vote.
  Let me make it absolutely clear, this bill does no such thing!
  It does not take away the voting rights of workers.
  The bill says that if 30 percent of workers want an election instead 
of a majority sign up, they get the election.
  I want people to know, though, that most workers do not want to go 
through the so-called election process because it is so favorable to 
the employers.
  Despite recent arguments from the bill's opponents, we are not 
talking about anything remotely similar to the American election 
system.
  During our election season, we will be exposed to ads on our TVs that 
we can turn off.
  With the union elections, employers hold employees captive for one on 
one meetings with supervisors to listen to anti-union rhetoric.
  Having someone tell you how to vote on campaign ads over and over 
again might be annoying.
  But imagine if it was your boss telling you how to vote with your job 
hanging over your head.
  In Committee, we heard about situations where employees have to walk 
past armed law enforcement to cast their votes.
  One witness, a Smithfield Foods worker, talked about a time when on 
``election'' day, sheriffs officers were dressed in battle gear with 
guns lining the long driveway leading to the plant.
  This is not the traditional American election.
  Madam Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this important 
legislation and give workers the choices they deserve.
    

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