Amazon Labor Union leader Chris Smalls defended workers Thursday after a passionate defense of corporations by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., during a hearing on labor laws.
Graham defended corporations who had faced recent unionization efforts and attacked laws that would prevent them from swaying a union election.
“I think it is patently illegal. This is a heavy handed approach,” Graham said in his opening remarks before the Senate Budget Committee, adding that it was part of “the most radical agenda” he had seen in his lifetime.
Graham said if Republicans won enough seats to take control of the Senate in the 2022 midterm elections, attacks on corporations would stop.
“If we take this body back, this demonization of individual companies that are subject to the law will cease,” Graham said.
Speaking immediately after Graham, Smalls said it sounded like the senator was focused on companies and businesses, “but you forgot that the people are the ones who make these companies operate.”
“If we’re not protected, and the process for when we hold these companies accountable is not working for us, then that’s the reason why we’re here today,” he added.
Smalls said it would be in Graham’s “best interest” to listen.
“It’s not a left or right thing, it’s not a Democrat or Republican thing. It’s a worker’s thing. It’s a worker’s issue and we’re the ones that are suffering in the corporations that you’re talking about, in the businesses that you’re talking about, in the warehouses that you’re talking about,” Smalls said.
“That’s the reason why I think I was invited today to speak on that behalf and you should listen because we do represent your constituents as well,” he added.
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