[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              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 bill (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 injunctions for 
     unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for 
     other purposes:

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Chairman, I regret that I was unable 
to vote on H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act, because of 
previously scheduled family matters. Had I been present, I would have 
enthusiastically cast my vote in support of this very important bill. 
In addition, I would have voted against each of the three anti-worker 
amendments and the Republican motion to recommit.
  As a strong supporter of the rights of workers to organize and 
bargain collectively, I have been an original cosponsor of the Employee 
Free Choice Act in each session of Congress that it has been 
introduced.
  I believe it is critical that workers be able to make their own 
decision--freely and fairly--about whether or not to form a union. 
Although we have had several years of economic growth and high 
corporate profits, middle-class families in America continue to feel 
the squeeze of stagnating incomes coupled with rising health care, 
education, and housing costs. By passing the H.R. 800 today, we can 
take an important step towards easing the middle class squeeze by 
giving workers a free choice to join together to bargain for better 
wages, benefits and working conditions.
  Some have said that this bill would abolish the secret ballot 
election. It would not. It simply gives employees a choice. Employees 
can still petition for an election, but if a majority of workers sign 
cards saying they want a union now, they get a union, and the employer 
must respect that choice.
  This is about fixing the current system for forming unions and 
bargaining, which is badly broken. But above all, it is about respect 
and fairness for middle-class America, ensuring that workers have a 
choice--and a voice--at work.

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