ATLANTA – Today state Representative John Lunsford (R- McDonough) announce that House Resolution 22 has been favorably reported by the House Committee on Industrial Relations. The resolution will now be sent to the House Committee on Rules.
HR 22 and its Senate companion, SR 108, propose a constitutional amendment in order to guarantee Georgia workers’ ability to vote by secret ballot in union organizing elections.
“This amendment is not about preventing unions in Georgia. We have unions in Georgia, and we welcome them. This amendment is about preserving workers’ rights to a secret ballot and allowing them to choose the fate of their paycheck without public influences,” said Rep. Lunsford.
This constitutional amendment was proposed in response to a national attempt to end the use of the secret ballot. The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is a piece of federal legislation that would replace the current system of secret-ballot union organizing elections with card checks. During these card checks workers publicly sign union cards to organize and join a union. Under this card check system, workers would be vulnerable to threats and intimidation because unions and employers would know exactly which workers want to join a union. HR 22 protects workers by securing their right to a secret ballot.
According to a 2009 poll by Wilson Research Strategies, 86% of Georgia voters support an amendment to the state constitution guaranteeing secret ballot rights. The poll shows that the amendment has strong support from Republicans and Democrats as well as all age ranges and income brackets.
HR 22 has bipartisan support and has been cosponsored by Representatives Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons), Jan Jones (R-Milton), Mike Coan (R-Lawrenceville), Edward Lindsey (R- Atlanta), and Kevin Levitas (D- Atlanta).
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Representative John Lunsford represents the citizens of District 110, which includes portions of Butts, Henry, and Newton counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2001, and currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Rules Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Health & Human Services, and Judiciary Non-Civil committees.