SCMA On Anti-Card Check Bill
This week, the Senate approved H.3305, by Rep. Eric Bedingfield (R-Greenville), a constitutional amendment to protect a worker’s right to a secret ballot in a union election, by a 33-9 vote. The bill was sent back to the House where they voted to concur with the Senate changes. It now goes to the Governor for his approval.
Under current law, the National Labor Relations Board will schedule a secret ballot election if 30% of employees sign statements asking for union representation. The so-called (and fundamentally misnamed) Employee Free Choice Act now pending in Congress would call for immediate recognition of the union without the secret ballot election if 50% of a workforce signed cards. The bill would also essentially prevent bargaining to impasse and require binding arbitration to determine contract terms if the parties could not agree.
The thought is that a State constitutional amendment could prevent application of EFCA in South Carolina. Although we are not certain this effort could withstand the federal preemption of State labor laws, we believe there are enough substantive arguments to the contrary to make this state legislation worthwhile. Specifically, if Congress passes EFCA with an exemption for States wishing to opt out of its application, much like the NLRA right to work exemption, then this legislation could be quite effective. In short, the preemption arguments notwithstanding, this legislation is worthwhile and was strongly supported by SCMA.
Those voting in favor include:
Sen. Thomas Alexander (R-Oconee)
Sen. Lee Bright (R-Spartanburg)
Sen. Kevin Bryant (R-Anderson)
Sen. Paul Campbell (R-Berkeley)
Sen. Chip Campsen (R-Charleston)
Sen. Ray Cleary (R-Georgetown)
Sen. Creighton Coleman (D-Chester)
Sen. John Courson (R-Richland)
Sen. Ronnie Cromer (R-Newberry)
Sen. Tom Davis (R-Beaufort)
Sen. Dick Elliott (D-Horry)
Sen. Mike Fair (R-Greenville)
Sen. Larry Grooms (R-Berkeley)
Sen. Wes Hayes (R-York)
Sen. Jake Knotts (R-Lexington)
Sen. Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence)
Sen. Joel Lourie (D-Richland)
Sen. Larry Martin (R-Pickens)
Sen. Shane Martin (R-Spartanburg)
Sen. Shane Massey (R-Aiken)
Sen. Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston)
Sen. Yancey McGill (D-Williamsburg)
Sen. Mick Mulvaney (R-Lancaster)
Sen. Floyd Nicholson (D-Greenwood)
Sen. Billy O’Dell (R-Greenwood)
Sen. Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee)
Sen. Luke Rankin (R-Horry)
Sen. Mike Rose (R-Dorchester)
Sen. Greg Ryberg (R-Aiken)
Sen. Nikki Setzler (D-Lexington)
Sen. David Thomas (R-Greenville)
Sen. Danny Verdin (R-Laurens)
Sen. Kent Williams (D-Marion)
Those voting against include:
Sen. Ralph Anderson (D-Greenville)
Sen. Robert Ford (D-Charleston)
Sen. Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg)
Sen. John Land (D-Clarendon)
Sen. Phil Leventis (D-Sumter)
Sen. Gerald Malloy (D-Darlington)
Sen. John Matthews (D-Orangeburg)
Sen. Clementa Pinckney (D-Jasper)
Sen. John Scott (D-Richland)