Bill Text: GA HR23 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

Georgia House Resolution 23 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Labor union elections; urge Georgia Congressional Delegation to reject such measures

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 5-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-04-03 - House Withdrawn, Recommitted [HR23 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-HR23-Introduced.html

09 LC 21 0045

House Resolution 23

By: Representatives Lunsford of the 110th, Lindsey of the 54th, Levitas of the 82nd, Keen of the 179th, Jones of the 46th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Expressing disapproval of the enactment of legislation regarding labor union elections and urging the Georgia Congressional Delegation to reject such measures; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the first right-to-work laws in Georgia were adopted in 1947; and

WHEREAS, Georgia'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 Georgia 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 Georgia 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 Georgia employees vulnerable to harassment, misinformation, and labor union pressure and would ultimately have a significant negative impact on the Georgia 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 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the members of the Georgia General Assembly hereby 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 Georgia employees' right to a fair and secret ballot election, do irreparable harm to Georgia industry and business, and effectively repeal Georgia's right-to-work laws.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the United States Congress and the members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation.