Bedingfield Files Constitutional Amendment Protecting Workers' Right to Secret Ballot

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. / January 15, 2009 - Today, State Representative Eric Bedingfield (District 28) introduced H.3305, an amendment to the South Carolina constitution, protecting the rights of workers to a secret ballot in a union organizing election.

 

Rep. Bedingfield said, "With Congress threatening to take away the rights of South Carolina workers, I see no choice but to protect our citizens by amending the state constitution. This constitutional amendment guarantees the right of every South Carolina worker to a secret ballot, a right that should never be infringed. Protecting South Carolina workers is a non-partisan issue, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure passage of this amendment this year."

 

The federal legislation that would repeal a worker's right to a secret ballot is commonly referred to as "The Employee Free Choice Act."  This poorly-named bill would repeal a worker's right to a secret ballot if a union organizing election was held in his workplace. Even though South Carolina is a right-to-work state, this federal legislation would allow labor unions to organize if only 50% of the workers signed a public union authorization card, or "card-check agreements." If a valid card-check agreement was passed, employers would have only 120 days to reach a collective bargaining agreement with a labor union, or else a mediator would draw one binding the employer to it, without the possibility of an appeal. Current federal law allows for secret ballot elections and card-check agreements, but the federal legislation would forever remove the secret ballot option for workers.

 

Rep. Bedingfield added, "South Carolina's economy is on shaky ground and I can't imagine why Congress would want to harm our economy with this legislation. Our businesses, even small businesses, are competing in the global economy. We should not tie their hands with unaffordable union contracts that would only have been written on the backs of workers whose right to a secret ballot was repealed. This constitutional amendment is not only pro-worker, but it is an insurance policy against congressional action that would do great harm to South Carolina’s economy."

 

Earlier this week Rep. Bedingfield introduced H.3222, a resolution urging members of the South Carolina Congressional delegation to oppose the Employee Free Choice Act. The resolution is pending before the House Invitations and Memorial Resolutions Committee.

 

Rep. Bedingfield is a businessman and represents District 28 located in Greenville County. He is serving his second term and serves on the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. For more information about H.3305 and the damaging effects of the so-called "Employee Free Choice Act," please contact Rep. Eric Bedingfield at (864) 230-7044 or BedingfieldE@schouse.org.

 

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Click HERE for information on H.3222 (RELATED).