house resolution no.237
Reps. Haadsma, Weiss, Brenda Carter, Sabo, Clemente, Coleman, Breen, Stone, Hope, Neeley, Brabec, Sowerby, Garza, Liberati, O'Neal, Pohutsky, Steckloff, Cavanagh, Rabhi, Cherry, Steenland, Tyrone Carter, Manoogian, Bolden, Kuppa, Rogers, Sneller, Scott, Thanedar, Ellison, Aiyash, Peterson, Koleszar, Hood, Young, Shannon, Jones, Tate, Hertel, Brixie, Morse and Whitsett offered the following resolution:
Whereas, The right to organize and strike is essential to labor rights and the protection of workers in the United States. Without these rights, employees would have no recourse against unfair treatment by their employers; and
Whereas, The right to organize and strike requires that workers are protected against being replaced during a strike. Allowing employers to replace striking workers tips the balance entirely in the favor of employers during negotiations; and
Whereas, In 2016, the National Labor Relations Board restricted employers' right to permanently replace workers during a strike. Under the board's decision, employers cannot replace employees as a way to punish them or prevent future strikes. Strikers can still be replaced to ensure continuous operations; and
Whereas, On December 7, 2021, the Kellogg Company announced that it would permanently replace 1,400 striking employees after the union rejected an agreement to end the strike. This action demonstrates that current protections against the replacement of striking workers are inadequate; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the President, Congress, and the National Labor Relations Board to enact policies banning employers from permanently replacing striking employees; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, and the Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board.