Speech #1090183009

The collectivebargaining process was impaired by virtue of NLRB rulings that employers did not have an obligation to open their books to unions. contrary to Supreme Court mandate when the employer claims an inability to pay. True. the law is a secondary factor in the precipitous decline in union membership to less than 13 percent of the workforce and to 7.8 percent in the private sector. Other factors--globalizaton. deregulation in transportation. vulnerable contingent and parttime employees. including illegal immigrantsaxe more significant as an explanation for labors neardemise than the laws many weaknesses. However. for the past 35 years. the inability of the law to provide an expeditious resolution to worker and employer complaintsand thus assurance that justice will not be denied through its delay as well as inadequate remedies. have made reform necessary long before the Bushappointed NLRB began to work its mischief. The newly elected Democraticled Congress should address laborlaw reform.