Harvey Peeler

South Carolina’s Republican Senators today pushed a bill out of Judiciary Committee that protects workers from union intimidation. H.3305, introduced by Rep. Eric Bedingfield, is a constitutional amendment that would guarantee a worker’s right to voting by secret ballot during union organization.

The legislation is a reaction to the deceptively named federal “Employee Free Choice Act,” which US Senator Jim DeMint has more appropriately dubbed the “Secret Ballot Elimination Act.” The federal legislation would strip workers of their right to vote for unionization by secret ballot, opening them up to intimidation and harassment by unions.

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) is the lead sponsor of a Senate companion bill. “The fundamental right to a secret ballot vote is essential to a free nation. Our Senators will not let liberal Washington insiders take that right from South Carolina’s workers,” said Senator Peeler.

“We’ve seen what happens when unions control the economy. It’s called Detroit. And we’ve seen what happens when unions fail. Congress bails them out on the backs of hardworking taxpayers. South Carolina must continue to be a right-to-work state and we must protect our workers’ right during this tough economic crisis,” Peeler said.

The legislation protects workers’ rights through an amendment to the SC Constitution stating “To preserve and protect the fundamental right of individuals to vote by secret ballot, where local, state, or federal law requires elections for public office or ballot measures, or requires designations or authorizations for employee representation, the right of individuals to vote by secret ballot is guaranteed.”

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