IFPTE Endorses the Secure and Fair Elections (SAFE) for Workers Act
July 14, 2020
Dear Representative:
As the Executive Officers of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), representing upwards of 85,000 workers, we are writing in support of H.R. 7485, the bipartisan Secure and Fair Elections (SAFE) Workers Act, sponsored by Representatives Andy Levin (MI-09) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01).
On June 30th, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) inexplicably announced that they are returning to in-person union elections during the current pandemic. Coincidently, the NLRB declaration came on the very same day that Dr. Fauci warned that the United States could see as many as 100,000 new COVID cases per day. This reckless action will needlessly put the health and safety of workers at risk and clearly prompts the necessity for immediate Congressional intervention.
Fortunately, the Levin-Fitzpatrick legislation directly addresses this matter by overturning the NLRB prohibition of electronic voting for union elections. Specifically, the legislation requires the NLRB to administer union elections remotely by:
Repealing a 2012 appropriations rider that prohibits developing electronic voting infrastructure;
Directing the NLRB to create a system and procedures for electronic voting in union elections;
Requiring the NLRB to use their newly developed electronic voting system during the pandemic (or to use mail-ballots in the exceptional cases where electronic voting may be impractical);
Requiring the use of the National Mediation Board’s existing system if the NLRB cannot stand their system up within 60 days; and
Dedicating $1,000,000 in funding for the NLRB to develop the appropriate system and procedures.
At a time when tens of millions of workers are unemployed or underemployed, and tens of millions more are working on the front lines in dangerous conditions without proper PPE, the NLRB should not be adding to an already dire safety situation. Pandemic or not, workers should maintain the right to organize unions, and form them in as safe an environment as possible. IFPTE believes that the Secure and Fair Elections (SAFE) for Workers Act puts the health and safety of workers first and we urge you to cosponsor it.
Thank you for your consideration. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact either of us directly, or IFPTE Legislative Representative Faraz Khan at (202) 239-4880.
Sincerely,
Paul Shearon
IFPTE President
Matthew S. Biggs
IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer/Legislative Director