Tom Harkin: “What they are proposing to do on the Republican side is to reward the worst companies: Those companies that will not…”

“What they are proposing to do on the Republican side is to reward the worst companies: Those companies that will not negotiate in good faith and bargain with their workers; those companies that will drag down the other companies. That is the effect of their amendment. This amendment is counterproductive. We need more organized labor, not less, to compete in international markets. We are the most productive country in the world, and it is because we have had good labor-management relations working together, to increase productivity on the world market. Unions boosted productivity from 17 to 22 percent in construction, and a study of 20 manufacturing industries showed that unionized workers were from one-fifth to nearly one-quarter more productive than their nonunion counterparts. When I hear the statements coming from the other side of the aisle-- and what I hear is, ``Let's break down this labor-management relations we have had, let's break down collective bargaining''--the next thing I expect to hear is, ``Let's reintroduce child labor, if you want to compete with other countries that employ child labor.'' Well, why not? Workers have no more rights in this country. Workers have no rights to stick up for their dignity, to demand better wages, hours, and conditions of employment. I hope that the Senate will speak loudly and clearly. The President has acted correctly, and he acted within the confines of the law, in issuing that Executive order.”