Miss. bill would require secret-ballot union votes for firms getting state incentives

State Sen. Josh Harkins introduced Senate Bill 2202 to require private, secret-ballot elections for any union representation decisions at companies that accept future Mississippi economic development incentives, Harkins wrote in an op-ed for the Magnolia Tribune.

Harkins said the bill would not bar employees from organizing, outlaw unions or block a union if a majority of workers choose one. He said SB 2202 applies only to future incentive agreements and future organizing tied to those incentives and would not affect existing collective bargaining agreements, currently unionized workplaces or subcontractors.

Harkins argued a secret ballot protects individual privacy and prevents pressure that can accompany signature-based recognition, often called “card check.” He said federal labor law typically uses National Labor Relations Board overseen secret-ballot elections but that some unions are voluntarily recognized based on authorization cards.

The bill would also address so-called neutrality agreements that can limit what employers may say during organizing campaigns, Harkins wrote. He said his aim is not to tilt the playing field but to ensure workers receive information and can hear multiple perspectives before deciding on representation.

Harkins noted that other states, including Georgia and Tennessee, have linked state incentives to secret-ballot protections and that Alabama has pursued similar measures, according to his op-ed. He also cited U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing about 5.2% of Mississippi wage and salary workers were union members in 2024 as a reason to set expectations now as the state seeks new industrial investment.

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