Today he unveiled his “Freedom to Work” plan at Dynax American Corporation in western Virginia, a company that moved to Virginia in 1996 during Governor Allen’s administration specifically because the Commonwealth was a right-to-work state.

The Freedom to Work plan reinforces the right-to-work status of Virginia, encourages job creation and growth of business, protects the rights of hard-working citizens, and complements Allen’s Blueprint for America.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch has additional details.

George Allen appreciates the original and laudable goals of labor unions and supports the right of Americans to freely join a union if they wish – and their right to choose not to join or be compelled to pay dues or fees as a condition of keeping a job. He is a vigorous defender of Virginia’s Right?to?Work law and saw first?hand as Governor how it helped encourage investment and expansion of businesses in Virginia.

In the United States Senate, George Allen will advance a three?part Freedom to Work agenda to help businesses create jobs, save taxpayers money, and protect the liberty of working men and women.

Freedom of Movement: Expressly protects the right of an employer to decide whereto conduct business in the United States.

o Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide in law that the NLRB has no power to order any employer to move, shut down, or transfer employment.
o Applies to any open complaint and ensures that no future company or workers will be intimidated or threatened as was Boeing and its employees.

Freedom to Contract: Promotes and ensures full, open competition on government funded and assisted construction projects.

o Prohibits restrictive Project Labor Agreement (PLA) requirements on federal and federally?assisted construction contracts, reversing Executive Order 13502, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects.
o Prohibits federal agencies from discriminating against bidders for declining to adhere to anti?competitive and costly PLA agreements.
o Repeals the Depression?era Davis?Bacon wage laws that diminish competition and inflate costs taxpayers pay for construction when the federal government is involved.

Freedom of Association: Protects the right of America’s working men and women to freely choose to join a union, or to choose not to join or pay union dues or fees.

o Amends the National Labor Relations Act to prevent workers from being compelled to pay union dues or fees to get or keep a job.
o Ensures that union elections are open and fair by guaranteeing workers the opportunity to cast a secret ballot before a union can be organized.

The Freedom to Work Act complements George Allen’s Blueprint for America’s Comeback to further make sure America’s businesses have available every possible tool to create jobs.

George Allen for U.S. Senate

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

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About the author

Lynn R. Mitchell

As SWAC Girl (an acronym for Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County), Lynn has been writing in the Virginia political blogosphere since 2006. Active in area politics, she has coordinated campaigns and served in leadership for the past decade. The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia is one of the most beautiful places to call home ... the Republican Party carries her beliefs.

Comments

4 Responses to "George Allen unveils Freedom to Work Act"

1. 

   JZ October 5, 2011 14:54 pm

   Sounds pretty good. Although, I am not really sure why the Federal Government regulates this area, surely the states can handle it. I suppose it is “justified” through the unlimited power of the commerce clause.

2. 

   William Bailey October 5, 2011 15:32 pm

   I guess nobody told George that only 4% of Virginia’s workers are in a union. Great plan if you don’t really plan to have an impact on 96% of Virginia workers lives and their jobs… LOL

3. 

   J.R. Hoeft October 5, 2011 17:41 pm

   Ah, William…nothing is ever “good enough” is it? Here, Allen is saying Virginians have the right to join a union, but not be compelled. And that’s bad because? Oh, yeah…you’re a union promoter.

4. 

   William Bailey October 5, 2011 22:30 pm

   JR: Spin it any way you want but to pander to the anti-union crowd when 96% of the workers in Virginia are ignored seems to be par for Allen’s course… Maybe the voters can’t see through it but most folks do.

   BTW: Folks are not forced to join a union in Virginia in any locality so I do not see why Allen would feel our current laws which work very well, need to be replaced with “his plan.” And I am the president of the largest public safety union in Tidewater and they are all volunteers. Not one of my members was forced to join, pay dues or support the union cause against their will. They volunteered to become a unified orgaization to help save lives in an honored profession, improve their family’s lifestyle and protect the community. What is wrong with that objectives?

   Folks love those union guys when they call 911 or see us on the streets helping others but here and in other political blogs, the union is blamed and its members called names or worse. I’m proud of my union, its members and what we do as an organization to serve. Yes I’m a union promoter… Thanks I am proud of my role and service to my country, community and union.