WASHINGTON – Native American tribes could have more autonomy in setting their own labour rules under legislation passed by the House.
The House voted 249-177 on Tuesday to give the National Labor Relations Board less authority to oversee labour organization on American Indian reservations. Republicans who supported the bill said it would free struggling tribes from government overreach.
Many tribes have supported the bill, saying the labour oversight could harm developing American Indian economies and violate their sovereign rights. They noted that some tribes have encouraged labour organization on their own.
The Obama administration opposed the bill, saying it would not do enough to protect employees at businesses on Indian lands.
