Producers, retailers share viewpoints with Congress
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 23, 2009
High Point — High Point— Furniture manufacturers and retailers visited Washington this month to urge lawmakers to prioritize policies that will reinvigorate lending and consumer purchases, and to steer clear of new regulations that would increase costs or disrupt workplace relations.
Company and association executives visited the offices of 13 members of Congress.
Top on the group's agenda was urging the legislators to oppose the Employee Free Choice Act, better known as the "Card Check Bill." The bill would eliminate secret ballot voting by employees and instead require employers to recognize a union once a majority of their workers sign cards of support. Under current procedures, employees may cast their votes confidentially.
"In addition, this bill would change the role of government arbitrators from interpreting contracts to potentially writing the terms and conditions of contracts that would be binding on all parties for two years," said Bruce Bradburn, CEO of The Bradburn Co. and 2009 chairman of the American Home Furnishings Alliance. "Our objective was to make it clear to lawmakers that we oppose any proposals such as this that would hinder the rights of our employees, our ability to maintain jobs, and our industry's ability to maintain economic competitiveness."
Earlier this month, another AHFA delegation to Washington was successful in arguing against a pair of health care provisions in the economic stimulus bill that would have increased employer costs.
Both provisions ultimately were removed from the final stimulus bill.
AHFA also arranged for more than a dozen North Carolina furniture industry executives to meet with newly elected Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) in High Point last week. Once again, the Card Check Bill was among the key issues.
AHFA will continue its efforts on Capitol Hill May 12–13 when visits with key lawmakers will be part of the agenda for the association's midyear board of directors meeting in Washington.
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