Congress Passes, President Signs Ledbetter Bill
Long Fight Ahead in DC to Protect Jobs
On January 27th, just three weeks into the new Congressional session, the U.S. House voted to pass the Ledbetter bill (S. 181) – legislation opposed by our state Chamber and backed by unions and plaintiffs ‘ lawyers that will increase lawsuits against employers and raise the cost of doing business in our state. Just two days later on Jan. 29th, President Obama signed the bill into law. Click here to read more about the Ledbetter bill and find out how your representatives voted.
The fact that Congress passed this bill during the worst economic crisis since the Depression and that it’s the first bill President Obama signed should serve as a wake-up call for North Carolina’s business community. In order to bolster our struggling economy and protect jobs, the North Carolina Chamber urges its members to engage in our advocacy work and continue to contact our state’s Congressional delegation to prevent other legislation that will drive up costs and make employers less competitive from becoming law. Two other bills like this are the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 12) and the Employee Free Choice Act (expected to be introduced in the U.S. House in February).
Write or Call North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation Now!
The North Carolina Chamber strongly encourages its employer members and their employees to contact their representatives in Congress (your representative in the U.S. House and both of North Carolina’s senators) about the Paycheck bill (H.R. 12) and the Employee Free Choice Act (“card check” bill). Tell Sens. Richard Burr and Kay Hagan (contact information below) and your U.S. House member that these proposals will increase the cost of doing business and make it more difficult for struggling employers to retain and create jobs. At a time of economic crisis and unprecedented job loss it is imperative for our Congressional delegation to know that we need policies that will create jobs, and that North Carolina employers are opposed to these bills! (Bill descriptions can be found below.)
Click here to identify and contact your U.S. House Representative.
Click here to contact Senator Burr.
Click here to contact Senator Hagan.
Background on the Paycheck Bill & Employee Free Choice Act:
The Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 12): The Paycheck bill expands remedies under the Equal Pay Act (EPA) to include unlimited punitive and compensatory damages and significantly erodes employer defenses for legitimate pay disparities, prohibiting employers from paying different salaries to different workers in different geographic locations. The EPA and Civil Rights Act already provide adequate remedies for gender discrimination in employment. This bill would make it easier to file large class-action lawsuits is unnecessary and costly at a time employers can least afford it. The Paycheck bill has already passed the U.S. House (with eight of North Carolina’s members voting yes). They need to continue to hear from North Carolina employers, along with both of North Carolina’s senators.
The Employee Free Choice Act (“card check” bill): Card Check legislation would trash employees’ privacy by throwing out secret-ballot elections for employees when they’re being asked whether or not to join a union. It would also remove any incentive for unions to negotiate reasonably with employers in a unionized workplace because when a settlement between an employer and a union cannot be reached within 120 days, government arbiters would take over and the federal government would then be in charge of making decisions for both employees AND employers. It also increases penalties on employers for what is called “unfair labor practices” and not for unions for the same. It is unbalanced, unfair to employees and employers, and bad for our economy.
Stay Informed about Legislation that would Impact You!
To receive up-to-date information about legislation and legislative activity in Congress and the North Carolina General Assembly that would impact North Carolina employers, our economy and our future, visit the North Carolina Chamber’s online Legislative Action Center regularly. You can follow bills with our state Chamber and read important Action Alerts that will provide you with the information and tools you need to get engaged in the process and help our state Chamber protect and enhance North Carolina’s business climate and quality of life. Add this page to your Favorites in your Web browser:
http://capwiz.com/ncchamber/issues/bills/.
Click here to subscribe to our e-newsletter and receive Action Alerts.
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