Republican Proposal Would Prevent Illegal Aliens From Voting in Union Elections

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Today, House Republicans will offer a proposal to prevent illegal immigrants from voting in union organizing elections. The GOP proposal will be offered as Democrats bring to the floor a related bill opposed by Republicans that would strip American workers of their right to a private ballot election when deciding whether to unionize, leaving them open to harassment and intimidation.

THE ISSUE

By doing away with federally-supervised private ballot elections, the Democrats' so-called Employee Free Choice Act (HR 800) would strip American workers of the right to choose - freely and anonymously - whether to unionize. The bill leaves workers open to pressure by both union bosses and employers who will know how workers vote. According to an editorial in the Los Angeles Times:

"The bedrock of federal labor law is not unionism under any conditions, but the right of workers to choose whether they want to affiliate with a union... Unions once supported the secret ballot for organization elections. They were right then and are wrong now."

THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE

Rather than water down the fundamental rights of workers as the Democrats' bill does, Republicans will offer a proposal to strengthen American workers' rights. The GOP proposal would require a union to demonstrate that any card presented in a card check campaign for union representation be signed only by a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant. This will ensure the wishes of American citizens are not trumped by the desires of those here illegally.

While Big Labor bosses are looking to Democrats to help them boost sagging membership, House Republicans are fighting to ensure American workers are free from intimidation of any kind. Whether it is intimidation by employers, intimidation by union bosses, or intimidation by government, Republicans believe American workers and their families should be free to pursue the American Dream and prosper.