Press Releases

The U.S. House of Representatives’ leading Republican voices on issues impacting American workers joined a key member of the U.S. Senate today to introduce legislation that will guarantee workers’ right to a secret ballot in union organizing elections. Their legislation, the Secret Ballot Protection Act (H.R. 1176), is a preemptive strike against legislation soon to be introduced by congressional Democrats to do away with secret ballot elections; instead, the Democrats’ legislation would force workers to make their vote public for all to see through a “card check” public sign-up process.

The Secret Ballot Protection Act was introduced by Reps. John Kline (R-MN) and Tom Price (R-GA), the top Republicans on the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee and the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, respectively. They were joined in introducing the legislation by Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the Labor Committee’s Senior Republican Member. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC).

Secret ballots are a hallmark of American Democracy. They protect individuals – whether they are voters on election day or workers deciding whether to organize – from public pressure, intimidation, or post-vote retribution,” said McKeon. “The Secret Ballot Protection Act makes clear once and for all that no one should be able to deny workers the right to a secret ballot.”

The Secret Ballot Protection Act was introduced with 101 original cosponsors in the House. For more information on Republican efforts to protect democracy in the workplace, please visit the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee Republican website.

 

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