Duncan Faircloth: “I rise in support of the Kassebaum striker replacement amendment. I strongly support the amendment offered by the…”

“I rise in support of the Kassebaum striker replacement amendment. I strongly support the amendment offered by the distinguished Senator from Kansas. The Executive order is one more example of the President's bypassing the legislative process to accomplish his own agenda just as he did with the Mexican bailout which has been the subject of a Banking Committee hearing this morning and it is proving to be a monetary Vietnam. More importantly, this amendment is essential to overturn an Executive order which would unilaterally resurrect archaic labor policies that undermine our national effort to move our economy successfully into the competitive international markets of the 21st century. The President's action places at risk the integrity of our entire system of collective bargaining which is based on a delicate balance of the rights of employees to withhold their labor and the right of management to continue business operations during a strike. The President suggests that the ban on permanent replacement workers by businesses engaged in Federal contracts will lead to the more efficient performance of such contracts. This is ridiculous and is totally wrong. I am convinced that by upsetting the balance between labor and management, the entire system of collective bargaining will break down resulting in more strikes, business bankruptcies, and fewer jobs.”