Congressman Francis Rooney and Senator Johnny Isakson Sponsor Bill to Ensure Fairness in Union Organizing

Press Release

Today Congressman Francis Rooney and Senator Johnny Isakson joined together to introduce the Representation Fairness Restoration Act. This legislation would end the practice of organizing "micro-unions', which allow labor officials to organize small groups of workers, often as few as 2-3 people, within a company rather than the entire workforce.

Congressman Rooney said, "Since the labor board's decision, "micro-unions' have begun to form in multiple retail stores and manufacturing sites across the country, making it nearly impossible for employers to manage such fragmentation of the workforce. In one case, the NLRB ruled that perfume and cosmetics salespeople at Macy's, Inc. constituted their own "micro-union' and could unionize alone. Imagine the confusion and cost as stockers, cashiers, shoe and clothing departments, etc., form their own unions at Macy's.

Senator Isakson stated, "I have introduced this legislation every Congress since the National Labor Relations Board decided to tip the scales in favor of unions rather than allowing employees and managers within an organization to negotiate to best meet the needs of customers and workers alike," said Isakson, chairman of the Senate labor subcommittee. "Common sense would tell you, and now experience has shown, that "micro-unions' are a mistake, and I'm going to continue working to ensure that we have fair and equitable application of labor laws in the United States."

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) approved the first "micro-union' in a 2011 decision known as Specialty Healthcare, which allowed labor officials to organize small groups of workers within a company rather than the entire workforce. The practice spread from healthcare to retail, manufacturing, telecommunications, and other industries. "Micro-unions' allow unions to gain footholds in businesses where they otherwise lack enough worker support to have a regular union. The legislation would reinstate a 77-year-old standard for determining which groups of employees should constitute an appropriate bargaining unit. This is another example of the Obama Administration's unfair and partisan decision-making that is affecting our workplace. Congressmen Bradley Byrne, Tom Cole, Drew Ferguson, Glenn Grothman, Jason Lewis, Lloyd Smucker and David Roe have joined with Congressman Rooney as co-sponsors.

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