Alabama bill changing standard for how employees unionize heads to House floor

MONTGOMERY, Ala. ( WIAT ) — One Alabama lawmaker is working to set a new standard for companies when forming unions.

State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) is sponsoring a bill changing the way employees unionize.

Under the current law, employees who want to form a union can sign a card to show their interest. It’s called the “card check system”. With enough cards, the employer can recognize the union or call in the National Labor Relations Board to cast a secret ballot vote.

The bill would take away state incentives for companies that do not have a secret ballot vote when forming unions. These state incentives can include tax credits and loans. Orr explained it will prevent coercion from both employers and labor unions when unionizing occurs.

“Let’s just have the private ballot vote and maybe tamp down on the coercion and arm twisting that goes on by both sides,” Orr said.

State Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) voted against Orr’s bill. He said the bill takes away voluntary negotiation between unions and companies.

“We have some great workers in this state producing a lot of great products, making the state of Alabama look really good in a global manner,” Singleton said. “We want to make sure our workers are being taken care of.”

United Auto Workers has been attempting to unionize employees in the South. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a joint statement with other governors against the campaign. She cited layoffs in unionized companies and stated the union drive will be a detriment to auto workers in Alabama.

If signed into law, the bill would go into effect in October.

“I think it’s important for Alabama to send a signal — like Georgia, like Tennessee — that in the future if you get state incentives, we want to see a private ballot-type voting environment,” Orr said.

The bill passed out of the House’s Commerce and Small Business Committee. It now heads to the floor for a vote.

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