OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

The Election Prevention Act

Floor Speech

Date: Dec. 2, 2011
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Elections

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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