Apr. 21, 2015
HARRISBURG – The House on Tuesday passed legislation which closes a loophole that allows certain types of harassment in labor disputes.
House Bill 874, which would remove exemptions in the Crimes Code that permit harassment, stalking, and threatening to use weapons of mass destruction, passed by a 109-84 margin.
State Reps. Keith Gillespie (R-Hellam), Seth Grove (R-Dover), Kate Klunk (R-Hanover), Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-Jacobus), Mike Regan (R-Dillsburg) and Stan Saylor (R-Red Lion) issued the following statement in reaction to the bill’s movement:
“Passage of House Bill 874 takes us a step closer to putting into statute penalties for activities that have been allowed to carry on for far too long. We know our colleague, state Sen. Scott Wagner (R-28), has authored a similar bill and will lead the charge in the Senate to get this issue on to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk.
“The bill has been framed as being anti-union and nothing could be further from the truth. A few years ago, a union official appeared before the House Labor and Industry Committee about having to endure harassment from anti-union supporters, testimony which supplied even more evidence as to the need for this legislation. House Bill 874 also protects union officials from the kind of harassment they and their families must occasionally endure in labor disputes when certain individuals attempt to apply pressure.
“Intimidation is not part of honest negotiation and should not be allowed to take place without penalty. House Bill 874 is the solution to a problem that DOES exist, despite what some of its opponents may say.”
York County House Republican Delegation
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
slittle@pahousegop.com