Matsui Opposes Anti-Worker Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 30, 2011

CONTACT: ALANA JUTEAU
(202) 225-7163

Matsui Opposes Anti-Worker Bill
H.R. 3094 Would Inhibit Workers Ability to Organize

Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) voted in opposition to H.R. 3094, the so-called Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act. This anti-labor bill would, in fact, inhibit employees ability to organize by forcing workers to wait months and years before they are allowed to vote on whether to form a union.

As Democrats continue to work to pass legislation that creates jobs and supports America's small businesses and middle-class, our Republican colleagues are once again siding with special interests instead of working families, said Congresswoman Matsui. The legislation we considered today would deny workers their right to a free and fair election in order to form a union. This is another anti-labor, anti-middle class bill that would do nothing to create jobs and would instead undermine the workers rights that helped strengthen our country.

Under H.R. 3094, no union election can occur sooner than thirty-five days after filing of an election petition. Further, there is no limit on how long an election can be delayed as a result of employer claims, litigation, and challenges. By creating a delay in the election process, employers are granted the opportunity to pressure employees into abandoning organizing efforts. Critics, including the AFL-CIO, have taken to calling this bill the Election Prevention Act.

H.R. 3094 would create a huge amount of delay in the process because it requires that a pre-election hearing be held on any issue that any party raises, and mandates that the NLRB make a final determination on every appeal. The bill actually works to mandate delay of elections, rather than minimize them, and encourages frivolous litigation that ties up the election process, stalls votes, and prevents labor abuses from seeing the light of day. Further, it would reverse 75 years of National Labor Relations Board case law.

Matsui added, Unions have been critical in creating America's middle class the same middle class that is so important to the strength of our economy. We should be focused on creating jobs and supporting our middle-class workers, but this legislation will do neither. I will continue to oppose legislation that undermines American workers, and will keep fighting to see a real jobs bill passed.

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