[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18683]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      THE ELECTION PREVENTION ACT

  (Ms. PINGREE of Maine asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, this week I voted against H.R. 
3094, the so-called Workplace Democracy and Fairness Act, or, as it has 
become known, the Election Prevention Act. This bill's sole purpose is 
to delay and prevent workers from voting in workplace elections. It 
proposes a 35-day mandatory waiting period before a union election can 
be held. It encourages frivolous suits to be filed against union 
formation, and it allows companies to handpick union voters.
  In Maine we have a tradition of incredibly hardworking people who are 
essential to the health, education, and safety of our families. 
Collective bargaining has been at the heart of American labor since the 
rise of trade unions during the 19th century. Thanks to strong unions 
and thousands of workers, over the years we have enacted child labor 
laws, laws for maternity leave, and we don't have to fear unemployment 
if we get sick.
  I am proud to stand here today with organized labor and with the 
NLRB, which has served our workers so well.

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