Just days after facing heavy criticism from conservative groups for her pro-labor votes cast in the House, Congresswoman Candy Miller is being blasted by the Democrats for legislation that substantially changes the union election process.
Joining the majority of fellow Republicans in a 220-206 House tally, Miller voted this afternoon against an amendment that would have allowed airline and railroad workers to join a union through a simple majority vote.
“Her vote is very anti-worker and takes away the right of collective bargaining,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer, a longtime Miller nemesis. “Congresswoman Miller should be ashamed of her decision to take away the rights of workers – especially in a struggling economy.”
In contrast, Miller faced heavy criticism earlier this week from the Midland-based Mackinac Center and the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance when it was revealed that she cast a deciding vote earlier this year against this same measure.
The House legislation requires that a majority of all workers – the proposed bargaining unit – must agree to join a union, rather than the majority of those who show up for a certification election.
In effect, workplace elections in the railway and airline industries would be handled differently than all other U.S. elections in that all those who don’t show up to vote would be treated as a “no” vote.
The Communication Workers of America, one of the largest organized labor groups in the nation, said that they suspect the members of Congress “undoubtedly … would not appreciate it if congressional elections were conducted following those same rules.”
The CWA did some research and found that, under the standard the House is proposing for union elections, not one of the current members of Congress would have won election in 2010.
That is, if they had to secured enough votes to reach the level of majority support from all registered voters in their district, they would have earned a trip to Washington. But none managed to cross that hurdle.
The CWA and other labor groups are now urging Democrats to help strip this provision out of the bill when it goes to a conference committee. Differences between the House and Senate have to be worked out, including the election restrictions.
If the election requirements remain in the final measure, which authorizes annual spending for the Federal Aviation Administration, President Obama is already threatening to veto the entire FAA bill.
My husband and I are both GLAD she voted the way she did, thank you Congresswoman Miller. Is it really a big surprise that the Democrats are "blasting" her? To some people, no matter what you do if you are a common sense, conservative – you can't do anything they like. Stop whining Democrats, the American people spoke LOUDLY during the last election cycle. We said we don't like your socialism tactics that can ruin our country. We applaud Congresswoman's strength and determination to accurately represent her conservative district.
How typical of a hypocritical and cowardly Republican. Miller changes her vote and caves in to the Koch brother boot lickers of the Mackinac Center and of course the money.
It is clear that the blood thirsty Republican crime machine will stop at nothing to crush the civil rights of Americans, rob us blind and ultimately enslave the workers.
Anytime Candice is getting "blasted by Democrats" it's a good sign. Unions should not be pulling the strings of our elected officials, especially Republicans.
It's time to reduce the power of unions to influence politics. Let's expose the misconception that unions represent the "common man"; They represent liberal, big government, and fight only for power and socialist principles.It's time for Michigan to pass Right-to-Work legislation and give workers a choice as to whether they want to join a union. No worker should be forced to join a union as a condition of employment !
Please email your state Representatives and ask them to introduce
Right-to-Work legislation in Lansing.
Chad, Candice Miller's earlier vote that was criticized by me was NOT on the identical matter to this, more recent, vote. Her previous vote was to join with the Dems and cast the deciding vote against an amendment that would have prohibited governments from essentially requiring that all bidders on government construction projects be union workers. Her vote effectively bans non-union workers from the opportunity to get jobs on many government construction projects.