Rob Andrews: “I deeply respect the ranking member of the full committee, and I know his intentions are very sincere, but I think the…”

“I deeply respect the ranking member of the full committee, and I know his intentions are very sincere, but I think the Members of the House deserve a record that is accurate. Let me review the five points that he made and set forth what the bill actually says. The gentleman says that the bill does away with secret ballots. That is not the case. If those choosing to organize a union wish to have a secret ballot, they can follow the same procedure that is in the law now: get 30 percent-plus to sign a petition for a secret ballot, and have one. The gentleman says that the bill legalizes coercion by unions. That is not the case. Coercion by a union against a worker is and still will be an unfair labor practice. The bill says if a signature is acquired by coercion and is involuntary, it is not presumably going to be a valid signature and therefore does not count. The gentleman says that the bill takes away the right of privacy from workers. Not so. The same process essentially by which people sign petitions under the present law, they would sign cards under the new bill. Perhaps the gentleman should be more concerned about the loss of privacy of workers during campaigns by employers to coerce and intimidate people to vote against the union.”