Ga. House sides with business lobby on labor laws

ATLANTA - The Georgia House of Representatives has approved two labor law changes that Republican leaders say would protect workers and boost market competition.

Democratic opponents, meanwhile, criticized the bills as attacks on the rights of organized labor in a state that already restricts the organizations with right-to-work laws.

House Bill 361 would allow workers to opt out at any time from automatic payroll deductions for union dues. Current law says workers must have only an annual option to opt out.

House Bill 362 would prohibit any state or local government entity in Georgia from requiring that bidders for public works contracts use unionized labor for a project.

Both bills passed on party-line votes. They now head to the Senate.