    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [July 30, 1996]
    [Pages 1232-1233]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the House of Representatives Returning Without Approval
    Legislation on Labor-Management Relations
    July 30, 1996

    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

    [[Page 1233]]

    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 have 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 uncertainty
    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 labor-management teamwork. The Congress rejected a
    more narrowly defined proposal designed to accomplish that objective.
        Instead, this legislation, rather than promoting genuine 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 true partnerships. A
    context of mutual trust and respect encourages the prospect for
    achieving workplace innovation, improved productivity, and enhanced
    efficiency and workplace performance. Any ambiguities in this situation
    should be resolved, but without weakening or eliminating the fundamental
    rights of employees to collective bargaining.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    July 30, 1996.