Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr. testified this week at the National Mediation Board’s (NMB) public hearing on the agency’s proposed change to rules governing union representation elections.
“Every employee should be allowed to choose for themselves whether to vote yes, no or to abstain in union elections,” said Roach. “The government should not employ a process that assigns a viewpoint to voters who do not cast a ballot.” The Machinists complete testimony is available at www.goiam.org/transportation.
“The new rule will not suddenly give unions an edge in elections, as some claim,” said Roach. “It will only take the advantage away from the carriers who are opposed to air and rail voters’ rights for the same reason people were opposed to guaranteeing voting rights for women and African Americans – they are afraid to upset the status quo and lose the advantages they enjoy at the expense of others.”
Thousands of IAM members have already submitted comments to the NMB in favor of the rule change. The NMB is accepting comments until January 4, 2010. Click here to send a message to the NMB.
