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ATLANTA, GA — Thousands of workers in the Peach State will soon be protected from coercive unionization efforts in their workplace, thanks to legislation passed today by the Georgia General Assembly. Senate Bill 362, a priority for Governor Brian Kemp, limits eligibility for receiving taxpayer incentive dollars to those companies that protect their employees’ right to a private ballot vote on unionization.
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s national Workers for Opportunity initiative applauds the passage of this bill and looks forward to celebrating Gov. Kemp’s timely signature of this landmark legislation. Once the bill becomes law, Georgia will join Tennessee as the second state in the nation to enact such protections for taxpayers and workers.
What key stakeholders are saying:
“Thanks to Gov. Brian Kemp, Sen. Mike Hodges and Rep. Will Wade's leadership, Georgia joins their neighbor in becoming the standard bearers protecting workers’ right to a private vote over whether to unionize at companies that receive taxpayer dollars," said Vincent Vernuccio, Labor Policy Senior Fellow at Workers for Opportunity. "We anticipate that many other states that value workers' freedom and the right-to-work will implement similar measures in the months and years to come. Workers for Opportunity stands ready to support and advise leaders around the country as they advance reforms that protect employees’ privacy and right to a secret ballot.”
“I believe this a fair piece of legislation – for companies receiving state incentives – that preserves their employees’ right to organize while maintaining their sacred right of access to a secret ballot. There is nothing in this bill that denies anyone the right to organize a union,” said State Senator Mike Hodges.
"I was proud to help carry this important pro-worker freedom legislation for Gov. Kemp. Georgia believes in protecting workers' right to privacy in union elections. We are proud to protect workers from union coercion and intimidation tactics in pushing card check which does not respect workers' privacy. No one should know how each worker votes when deciding union representation at the workplace. In America we believe in the sanctity and privacy of the ballot box,” said State Representative Will Wade.
"As Georgia continues to grow, it's imperative that we safeguard the policies and principles that have attracted so many people and companies to our state,” said Kyle Wingfield, President and CEO of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. “High on that list is the flexible labor market that helps make our economy so dynamic and resilient. We applaud Gov. Brian Kemp and the General Assembly for prioritizing the needs of workers, employers and taxpayers through this common-sense legislation. We are confident it will help to keep Georgia working."
Additional Resources:
- Vincent Vernuccio's testimony before the Georgia House Industry & Labor Committee on February 15th in support of this legislation can be viewed here.
- Vincent Vernuccio's opinion piece with Georgia State Representative Will Wade in the National Review titled The Georgia Model for Putting Workers’ Rights ahead of Union Demands can be read here.
- Vincent Vernuccio's letter to the editor on Georgia's Secret Ballots and Union Hypocrisy in the Wall Street Journal can be read here.
To interview Vincent Vernuccio or Chris Denson about this issue and broader labor policy, please email press@workersforopportunity.org.
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