HOUSE BILL: Prioritizing Our Workers' Employee Rights (POWER) Act (Passed)

[VPH]

I believe that in light of Labor Day, the POWER Act is what Atlasia needs to strengthen the position of working families. Expansion of workplace democracy is crucial to better outcomes in terms of wages, job protection, and safety. This act increases freedoms for workers and directly combats workplace abuse. Additionally, it has safeguards to prevent vague wording from becoming an issue in these petition drives for unionization.

[VPH]

I am all in favor of increasing freedoms of workers and protecting them from abuse. However I am rather skeptical about card check. At present the decision to form a union is done with a secret ballot, which I think is far safer and secure in terms of the establishment process than something as open ended as card check.

Most of the problems, occur not with the selection method, but the campaign for or against and I worry that there would be intimidation by both employers and labor representatives, even with protections that would be hard to counter in the absence of a secret ballot.

As an alternative I think we could have some of the same regulations established to keep the process free of these unsavory practices, while at the same time still preserving the secret ballot.

I think the secret ballot as a function of principle is a good idea, but the drawn out elections we often see for unions are where intimidation may happen from both sides. Making the process easier is a priority of mine.

[VPH]

I absolutely understand those concerns and would like to hear from more colleagues about the notion of "card check" that garners over 50% of employees resulting in an immediate election. I don't know what that time frame would have to be, but I would be willing to work on an amendment for this. At the same time though, we also need to ensure that the Department of Labor does not take years upon years to validate election results and that they cannot unnecessarily stall the workplace democracy process.

[VPH]

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Atlasian People's House of Representatives
Pending
[/quote]

Sponsor: VPH
House Designation: HB 1147


In italics are the amendments I'm making to the bill. I hope these changes adequately address peoples' concerns!

[VPH]

I'd prefer a more specific standard than "fairness" be applied to the proposed Section 3(iii), or else the existing term defined. As it is, I worry there is too much room for maneuvering by the DoL to block unions they don't want established.

I see what you mean, but I took it to mean that an election was conducted without abuse-the DoL's authority to do this already exists and I would imagine that the process exists within the DoL as is.

[VPH]

I also suggest that instead of using paper cards distributed by labor unions, they can allow workers to sign up and announce support for the union online in the privacy of their own homes. Any labor union should have a right to a list of the employees' personal email addresses of a company, so they can send their one standard email so they can announce who they are and their intention to form a union in their workplace, and a link to an online sign up page. The workers should not be forced to reveal their intentions to their employer. That will help prevent intimidation from the business they work for, and the ban on abuse from both sides will still apply to this.

Not every employee, especially in the service industry and on manufacturing lines, has a company email. Also I could see complaints arising about the personal email thing too. That's a privacy issue oftentimes.

[VPH]

Not quite sure-I would assume because I sponsored the bill? Idk though

[VPH]

Awesome. I believe this amendment addresses most if not all the concerns brought up in the debate. I believe this is a great compromise and I would be overjoyed to see the bill's passage.

[VPH]

I think we're ready for a final vote!

[VPH]

Aye!