For Immediate Release
Thursday, September 15, 2011
AFSCME’s McEntee to Congressional Republicans: Get Out of Jail Free Card Doesn’t Create Jobs
Washington, DC —The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO (AFSCME) issued the following statement today in regards to H.R. 2587, The Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act:
“Instead of passing the President’s jobs plan and actually creating jobs, congressional Republicans are up to the same old politics and doing the bidding of Corporate CEOs,” stated AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee. “H.R. 2587 gives companies a get out jail free card and makes them less accountable for firing workers and shipping jobs overseas. At a time when our economy is stagnant, and millions of Americans are unemployed, we should encourage companies to hire workers, not debate legislation that will allow companies to ship jobs to other countries.”
H.R. 2587, if enacted will eliminate the only remedy provided to the National Labor Relations Board, the authority to return workers to their jobs when a company decides to fire employees or relocate a plant to punish workers or avoid their obligation to bargain with workers. Additionally, enactment of this legislation will allow companies to more easily outsource jobs, and strip the authority to return those jobs to the U.S. if a company began outsourcing in retaliation.
“It is shameful that Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Cantor and the rest of the congressional Republicans continue to do the work of CEOs, lobbyists and campaign contributors. The members of Congress should do what they were elected to do, fight for an economic recovery that creates jobs and works for all Americans.”
