LETTER: Create jobs instead of slamming unions

Apparently Gov. Nikki Haley has decided the best marketing strategy to create jobs in South Carolina is to denigrate union members. And the Republican majority of the state Legislature is enthusiastically helping her push the anti-worker agenda.

In last year's legislative session we got the anti-worker propaganda bill entitled, "Employer Free Speech Act."

The National Labor Relations Board had issued a rule requiring employers to post notice informing employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

S.C. House Bill 3658 stated employers in South Carolina did not have to comply. Of course, the NLRA notice includes the statement that an employee does not have to join or remain a member of the union - shhh, no one will notice.

Now in this legislative session comes along House Bill 4652 to require South Carolina employers to display a poster telling workers they do not have to be union members (even though the National Labor Relations Act poster they were banning states the same information). In addition, the bill requires a labor organization to file certain information with the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Keep in mind that union organizations already file financial and other pertinent information under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959.

It is painfully obvious that the Governor and the Republican majority of the Legislature are doing nothing more than promoting their disingenuous anti-union agenda by putting forth this type of legislation. South Carolinians deserve better. Instead of maligning a group that comprises only about five percent of the workers in this state, why don't they propose legislation that really puts more people back to work?

Teresa Harper

Aiken