Chairman John Kline (R-MN) joins Reps. Phil Roe (R-TN), Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Trey Gowdy (R-SC) in cosponsoring the Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act, introduced by Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC) on July 19, 2011. H.R. 2587 will prevent the NLRB from dictating the location of American jobs.
THE PROBLEM:
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) should act fairly as it implements and enforces the laws written by Congress. However, a flaw in the National Labor Relations Act currently empowers the NLRB to order employers to close or relocate American workplaces, threatening jobs and business growth across the nation.
On April 20, the NLRB filed a complaint against The Boeing Company for creating work in South Carolina and demanded the work be transferred to Puget Sound, Washington.
If successful, the NLRB’s action may destroy thousands of South Carolina jobs and have a chilling effect on job creators across the country.
Despite repeated requests for documents that may shed greater light on this case, the NLRB has obstructed congressional oversight and refused to provide meaningful information.
The NLRB has more than a dozen enforcement tools at its disposal that can be utilized to hold employers accountable for unlawful labor practices; there is no reason it should be empowered to dictate where a private business can establish its workforce.
THE SOLUTION:
Congress must balance its responsibility to protect workers with the urgent need to enact policies that encourage economic growth and job creation in America. At a time when more than 14 million workers are unemployed, we must do everything possible to remove barriers to job growth and investment in the American economy.
That’s why Republicans have introduced the Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act (H.R. 2587). This critical legislation will prohibit the NLRB from dictating where an employer can and cannot locate jobs in the United States.
THE PROTECTING JOBS FROM GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE ACT:
Amends the National Labor Relations Act to prohibit the NLRB from ordering any employer to relocate, shut down, or transfer employment under any circumstance. This legislation eliminates an extreme enforcement remedy available to the board; more than a dozen alternative remedies remain available to hold employers accountable for unlawful labor practices.
Limits the NLRB’s authority in all cases that have not reached final adjudication before the board.
Fosters a positive environment for American employers to develop their businesses in the state that offers the best opportunities for growth and job creation.
The Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act will provide employers with the certainty they need to invest in our economy and put Americans back to work, right here at home.
