BIG LABOR TAKING SWIPE AT ANTI-WORKER BANKRUPTCY “REFORM” BILL

September 17, 2002

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Abortion opponents aren’t the only ones who have a problem with a provision affecting protesters as part of a larger bill overhauling bankruptcy laws, the Washington Post reported. House GOP leaders have indefinitely postponed voting on the measure because it contains language that would prevent protesters, such as antiabortion activists, from ducking legal judgments for obstructing access to legal businesses. House Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the language, which was originally inserted by Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) but then broadened by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), “would make union leaders on a picket line personally liable for any damage that might happen.”

According to the Post, Alan Reuther, legislative director for the United Auto Workers, sent a letter to members of the House last week urging them to bring down the bankruptcy bill rather than approve language “that would jeopardize picketing and protest activities by labor unions, civil rights, environmental and other organizations.” Republicans, for their part, say the whole mess is the Democrats’ fault because they’re the ones who put in the protest-related language at the outset. Chief Deputy Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said that although business leaders and others were frustrated about the impasse, “the message to our friends who worked so hard on this bill is your opponents can come in and have a real impact on what you’re trying to get done, ” the Post reported.