GOP's Labor Agenda

Congressional Republicans are gearing up to move a series of labor-related bills next year -- starting where they left off in the 104th Congress -- dealing with issues ranging from compensatory time to the Davis-Bacon law to the Supreme Court's Beck decision and OSHA reform.

But sources suggest that several of their top priority bills likely will have to be altered because they were either vetoed last year or failed to clear Capitol Hill in the face of stiff opposition; House GOP leaders and committee chairmen are expected to begin making those decisions this week. One bill aides say is almost guaranteed to come up relates to the Beck vs. Communications Workers of America decision, which gives workers the right to withhold union dues from political activities or anything not directly related to collective bargaining. Republicans last year were unable to move a bill to expand the Beck decision by requiring unions to get signed agreements from workers before using dues for political donations, thereby making it more difficult to use dues for this purpose. The GOP likely will handle the issue in the context of campaign reform.

Meanwhile, House Economic and Educational Opportunities Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chairman Cass Ballenger, R-N.C., plans oversight hearings on the administration's efforts to ease OSHA regulations before introducing a bill, aides said. Ballenger will not introduce the same comprehensive OSHA reform bill he sponsored last year, aides said, which never made it through the House and faced a veto threat from President Clinton.

One bill that did pass Congress but was vetoed by Clinton was the so-called TEAM Act, which would allow companies to establish "teams" of managers and workers to discuss workplace issues. Democratic opposition was based on concerns the bill would give employers total control over the teams. The legislation remains a GOP priority, but it is unclear whether it will be amended, sources say.

Republicans, however, see room for bipartisan compromise on two key issues: compensatory time off for workers and pension reform. Republicans introduced legislation in the last Congress to allow employers to offer compensatory time off instead of overtime pay, and GOP aides say it will be the first order of business next year. The White House and congressional Democrats opposed it on the grounds it might give employers too much control over when workers could take time off.

Republicans also are expected to hold hearings on Clinton's new family leave plan, which would create a new category for parents who wish to take time off for matters such as parent-teacher conferences. But Republicans have criticized the plan.

Another issue that could get bipartisan support involves legislation to consolidate scores of federal job training programs. The legislation fell victim in the 104th Congress to a mix of right wing opposition and presidential politics, and ultimately was filibustered by Democrats. But sources speculate the bill could have a stronger chance in an non-election year.

It remains unclear how Republicans will proceed with Davis-Bacon legislation. Last year, Republicans proposed a repeal of the 1930s-era law requiring contractors to pay the prevailing wage to workers on federal construction projects. But aides speculate they may have to compromise in the 105th Congress, with one possible approach involving raising the threshold for the law to kick in.