The following has been introduced into the South Carolina legislature regarding the anti-democratic “Employee Free Choice Act” that union bosses and politicians are trying to push through Congress:

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE DISAPPROVAL OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION REGARDING LABOR UNION ELECTIONS, AND TO URGE THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO REJECT THESE MEASURES.

Whereas, the first right-to-work laws in South Carolina were adopted in 1954; and

Whereas, South Carolina’s right-to-work laws give the State a distinct advantage when recruiting new industry and business; and

Whereas, the United States House of Representatives approved House Resolution 800, the Employee Free Choice Act, by a vote of 241 to 185 on March 1, 2007; and

Whereas, this federal legislation does not give South Carolina employees any new choices when deciding to join a labor union but rather repeals their right to a secret ballot election; and

Whereas, understanding that South Carolina spends tremendous resources to foster and support free elections around the world, it makes no sense to roll back the clock on our own workplace elections by abolishing federally protected secret ballots; and

Whereas, the bill would leave South Carolina employees vulnerable to harassment, misinformation, and labor union pressure and would ultimately have a significant negative impact on the South Carolina small business community; and

Whereas, small businesses are less likely to have labor counsel and are more susceptible to the complicated legal restrictions employers face during organizing drives; and

Whereas, this legislation departs from over six decades of precedent established by the National Labor Relations Act by imposing contract terms on private employers through a process of compulsory binding arbitration; and

Whereas, imposing contract terms through compulsory arbitration is an unconstitutional infringement on the right of private employers and employees to freedom of contract. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, express their disapproval of the actions of the United States House of Representatives of March 1, 2007, and urge the United States Senate to defeat House Resolution 800 because it would restrict South Carolina employees’ right to a fair and secret ballot election, do irreparable harm to South Carolina industry and business, and effectively repeal South Carolina’s right-to-work laws.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the United States Congress and the members of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.