Political Quotes

“I oppose the motion to proceed to consideration of the appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. I do so because I support the President's Executive order to ban the use of permanent striker replacement workers on Federal contracts. I strongly oppose the provision in this bill that prevents enforcement of the Executive order. Some say that banning of permanent striker replacements will tip the balance toward labor unions. The balance has already been tipped against workers. In 1970, only 1 percent of strikes involved permanent replacement workers. By 1992, employers were hiring permanent replacements in 25 percent of strikes. If Congress repeals this order, we tell workers that they are disposable. We are telling working men and women that they can be tossed out onto a scrap heap of economic indifference. Permanent replacement workers weaken the collective bargaining power of unions and that will bring down U.S. wages and living standards. Strikes using permanent replacements last seven times longer than strikes that do not use permanent replacements. Strikes involving permanent replacements are more contentious and bitter, and that means that no one wins. Replacing strikers means replacing skilled workers with unskilled workers, experienced workers with inexperienced workers. Some argue that this expands Presidential authority, I disagree.”