The United Auto Workers (UAW), one of the most influential labor organizations in the country, is taking exception with a remark made by Senator Tim Scott and believe it has violated the National Labor Relations Act.
The controversy began after the South Carolina Senator made a south-of-the-border comment during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. He told an American citizen that if they attempted to start a union in Mexico, they “would be fired on the spot.”
The remark has sparked outrage from the UAW, with the group filing a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In the complaint, the union asserts that the Senator’s comments constitute an attempt to chill worker organizing.
The NLRB is currently reviewing the complaint to determine if the Senator violated the National Labor Relations Act. If found culpable, he could face both criminal and civil penalties.
“The NLRB defines any attempt to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of rights secured by the act as an unfair labor practice,” UAW spokeswoman Nora Gramciaz told reporters.
This isn’t the first time Senator Scott has made remarks about labor rights. During a Senate committee hearing in 2017, he advised corporations to be “creative” about circumventing labor rights by leveraging technology and automation.
The UAW, which is a union that represents 1.4 million active and retired auto workers, finds these comments appalling. It’s also seeking a public apology from the Senator for what it claims are anti-worker statements.
For his part, Senator Scott has stated that he doesn’t believe his remarks were anti-labor. However, the NLRB will make a determination as to whether or not they constituted an unfair labor practice.
It is yet to be seen how the NLRB will respond to the UAW’s complaint. But if past incidents involving similar statements are any indication, it looks like Senator Scott could be in hot water.
