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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Clinton Kills Proposal For Non-Union Groups

Associated Press

Mindful of organized labor’s political sway, President Clinton vetoed a bill Tuesday that would promote non-union work groups at plants and offices.

Republicans said allowing employers to form caucus groups with employees could improve communication between the the parties on quality control, safety, productivity and other workplace issues.

But labor groups, a powerful Democratic constituency, warned that the bill would encourage “company unions” and jeopardize traditional collective bargaining arrangements. Clinton promised a veto weeks ago; it was the 16th of his presidency.

“This legislation, rather than promoting genuine teamwork, would undermine the system of collective bargaining that has served this country so well for many decades,” Clinton said in his notice to Congress.

The bill’s Senate sponsor, Labor Committee Chairwoman Nancy Kassebaum, accused Clinton of “buckling to pressure from the AFL-CIO during an election year.”

The bill, called the “TEAM Act,” passed the Senate on July 10 by a margin of 53-46. The House passed it 221-202 last September.

Neither margin approaches the two-thirds needed to override a presidential veto.

The veto came just days before Congress’ recess, while the White House and GOP leaders engaged in delicate negotiations over welfare reform and anti-terrorism legislation.

Republicans earlier tried to attach the bill to legislation to raise the minimum wage, but Clinton said the measure was a “poison pill” that would precipitate a veto.

The 90-cent increase in the minimum wage was attached to a less controversial tax bill and has passed the House and Senate. Negotiators were meeting Tuesday night to hammer out a final version of it.

Clinton said the labor bill would allow employers to form company unions where no union exists and permit “company-dominated unions” where employees are in the process of deciding whether to be represented by a labor group.