General Assembly
Passes Delegate
Comstock's "Secret Ballot Protection Act" and "KEEP Secure Act"
To Protect Employee Rights And Privacy
Richmond,
VA- Today in the House of Delegates, Virginia
stood up for workers' rights and passed House Bill 1385, the "Secret Ballot
Protection Act," and House Bill 1931, "KEEP Secure Act: Keep Employees Emails
and Phones Secure Act." Both bills will now be sent to
Governor McDonnell to sign.
Delegate Barbara Comstock released the
following statement on the passage of both bills:
"The passage of these bills is a victory for
workers' rights and for protecting employees in the workplace.
"'The Secret Ballot Protection Act
strengthens workers' rights and freedoms and puts us on the side of
Virginia workers and their right to a secret ballot. Former Democratic
Presidential candidate George McGovern called efforts to eliminate the secret
ballot 'a disturbing and undemocratic overreach.' Without secret ballots,
workers could be subject to intimidation, harassment and potential threats to
vote in a certain way."
"'The
KEEP Secure Act is designed to keep employees' emails, cell phones and phone
information out of the hands of third parties unless there is a legal obligation
to provide the information. It
protects the privacy of employees and provides employers with protections
against demands from third parties trying to get information beyond what is
legally required in workplace elections."
"I'm
pleased that we were able to pass these bills that will enshrine worker's
rights, protect the secret ballot, and protect our pro-business climate and
workplaces here in Virginia."
HB
1385, "The Secret Ballot Protection Act," passed by a vote of 69-30 in
the House and 20-19 in the Senate. More information can also be found here.
HB1931,
"KEEP Secure Act: Keep Emloyees Emails and Phones Secure Act," passed
by a vote of 67-32 in the House and 21-19 in the Senate. More information on
this bill can be found here.