BILL: As Auto Workers Prepare for Strike, Should We Protect Workers' Rights to Organize? - H.R.20
Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill
Updated Sept. 4, 2023, 10:15 a.m. PST
- The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has been in the news for their "audacious" demands, and observers expect a strike when their contract ends on Sept. 14. If the strike goes ahead, it will involve 146,000 UAW members.
- During a Labor Day parade speech in Detroit today, UAW president Shawn Fain said that if the companies don’t agree on a fair contract, “come Sept. 14, we’re going to take action to get it by any means necessary.”
- The union is pushing for a 46% pay rise, a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay, and a restoration of traditional pensions.
- Automakers have dismissed the demands as unrealistic despite posting billions in profits. Over the last decade, the Detroit Three automakers have posted a collective net profit of $164 billion, with each CEO earning millions in annual compensation.
- Fain has also been vocal about unfair CEO compensation:
“They get out-of-control salaries. They get pensions they don’t even need. They get top-rate health care. They work whatever schedule they want. The majority of our members do not get a pension nowadays. It’s crazy. We get substandard health care. We don’t get to work remotely.”
- UAW members have voted overwhelmingly to authorize its leaders to call a strike. They have not decided whether to target one automaker or all three.
The Bill
H.R.20 - Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2023
Bill Details
- Sponsored by Rep. Robert "Bobby" C. Scott (D-Va.) on Feb. 28, 2023
- Committee: House - Education and the Workforce
- House: Not yet voted
- Senate: Not yet voted
- President: Not yet signed
Bill Overview
- Expands labor protections related to employees' rights to organize and bargain in the workplace.
- Revises the definitions of employee, supervisor, and employer to broaden the scope of individuals covered by the fair labor standards.
- Permits labor organizations to encourage their union members to participate in strikes initiated by different unions, known as secondary strikes, and prohibits employers from bringing claims against unions that conduct secondary strikes.
- Expands unfair labor practices to include prohibitions against the replacement of, or discrimination against, workers who participate in strikes.
- Allows collective bargaining agreements to require all employees represented by the union to contribute dues for the cost of such representation, notwithstanding a state law to the contrary.
- Prohibits employers from compelling employees to enter agreements where they waive the right to pursue collective and class-action litigation.
What's in the Bill?
Offers protection from employer retaliation
- Holds employers accountable for violating workers’ rights with meaningful penalties.
- Establishes penalties against entities that fail to comply with National Labor Relations Board orders.
- Strengthens whistleblower protections and prevents employers from taking action against an employee who participates in protected activities, like sharing violations with an enforcement agency.
Strengthens the ability of employees to fight for better conditions
- Amounts to a comprehensive proposal to protect the rights of workers to come together and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces.
- Secures free union elections by preventing employers from interfering and prohibits employers from hosting meetings that deter employees from joining unions.
Recognizes the value of union membership
- From 1979 to 2020, annual wages for the bottom 90% of households increased by just 26%, while average incomes for the wealthiest one percent increased by more than 160%.
- Studies show that union members earn, on average, 10% more than those with similar education, occupation, and experience in a non-union workplace.
- A 2022 Gallup poll found that 71% of Americans approve of labor unions.
What Supporters are Saying
“Our nation’s economic success is directly linked to the success of working people. A union job is the pathway for millions of American families to the middle class, prosperity, and opportunity, but for too long, workers' rights have been under attack. We must work towards rebuilding a fair and inclusive economy that works for everyone.”
“As a fundamental aspect to the continuous progress of our hardworking middle class, it is imperative that each working individual be empowered to exercise their right to stand together, organize, and be a part of a union. The introduction of this legislation solidifies the transparency, freedom, and fairness all workers deserve in the workplace, while also holding companies and executives accountable for violating their rights.”
“The PRO Act is how we level the playing field. It is how we stop the intimidation, the lies. This is how we let workers, not wealthy corporations, decide for themselves if they want the power of a union."
What Opponents are Saying
- Companies like Starbucks, Apple, Tesla, Amazon, Trader Joe's, and Chipotle have been in the news for union-busting and taking retaliatory action against employees who try to unionize their workplaces.
- Amazon has said:
“We don’t think unions are the best answer for our employees.”
Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill
—Emma Kansiz
(Photo Credit: Canva)
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I once was opposed to labor unions. I've since changed my mind after seeing large corporations treat their employees like dirt. Skyrocketing profits with little or no benefit to the employees. Trumps big tax cut on corporations was supposed to be passed down to employees. Didn't happen. Unions are necessary to keep these corporations honest and pay a fair wage. The government isn't going to do it for them. Yes, their demands can be extreme sometimes, but they are result of years of neglect by their employers. We need a form of moral and just capitalism in this country and not a form of greedy capitalism.
How dare people require overtime pay? They should be thankful, they have a three minimum wage paying job and starvation wages, with no benefits or retirement. They feel they should be entitled to social security, healthcare, shelter, food and survival. Why should it be equitable and fair? Well it should be! Every person in the world creates wealth!
The congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Also the trickle down as never proven to work with corporations or the wealthy, this is wishful thinking!
Representatives, We Most Strongly Urge You to Fully Support H.R.20 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2023
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/20?s=2&r=
From https://www.causes.com/articles/55287-bill-protect-workers-rights-organize-richard-l-trumka-protecting-right-organize-act-2023-h-r-20 :
Bill Overview
• Expands labor protections related to employees' rights to organize and bargain in the workplace.
• Revises the definitions of employee, supervisor, and employer to broaden the scope of individuals covered by the fair labor standards.
• Permits labor organizations to encourage their union members to participate in strikes initiated by different unions, known as secondary strikes, and prohibits employers from bringing claims against unions that conduct secondary strikes.
• Expands unfair labor practices to include prohibitions against the replacement of, or discrimination against, workers who participate in strikes.
• Allows collective bargaining agreements to require all employees represented by the union to contribute dues for the cost of such representation, notwithstanding a state law to the contrary.
• Prohibits employers from compelling employees to enter agreements where they waive the right to pursue collective and class-action litigation.
What's in the Bill?
Offers protection from employer retaliation
• Holds employers accountable for violating workers’ rights with meaningful penalties.
• Establishes penalties against entities that fail to comply with National Labor Relations Board orders.
• Strengthens whistleblower protections and prevents employers from taking action against an employee who participates in protected activities, like sharing violations with an enforcement agency.
• Strengthens the ability of employees to fight for better conditions
Amounts to a comprehensive proposal to protect the rights of workers to come together and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces.
• Secures free union elections by preventing employers from interfering and prohibits employers from hosting meetings that deter employees from joining unions.
• Recognizes the value of union membership
From 1979 to 2020, annual wages for the bottom 90% of households increased by just 26%, while average incomes for the wealthiest one percent increased by more than 160%.
Studies show that union members earn, on average, 10% more than those with similar education, occupation, and experience in a non-union workplace.
A 2022 Gallup poll found that 71% of Americans approve of labor unions.
Authoritarian leaders are getting more bolder by corruption support by capitalism and the end of freedom!
If an employeer offers a fair wage, mutiple benefits (paying a portion of health care, vacation , sick time, and a couple days of personal time]
Then NO. If an employer does not than a union would be helpful to obtain more benefits than you received upon hire.
I'm all for labor unions. Sombody has to keep the greedy corporations from pullin their stunts to maintain their profit margin. Investors are getting nothing more than "blood money" for such antics.
Absolutely we should protect workers to organize. I was a member of the IBEW for over 30 years. Being a union member our goal was to show management that we could work effectively and efficiently. Our work was our example of our name.
pit was funny, when a job started some companies would hire all union workers. As the job progressed to about half completed, the company would begin laying off union workers. Then a couple of weeks later they would replace with nonunion workers at less wages and benefits. We need to regain workers right to organize.
Sure there were those that took advantage of unions, but they were found and sent back to the hall with no rehire tagged to their name. The majority of union workers want to provide for their families and work towards a good retirement. They will do a good job. Also unions create a check and balance system. When they negotiate, their outcomes set a precedent. So nonunion shops have some leverage in their asking for raises and benefits. Unions help all, the employer in productivity and fairness and the workers maintaining a good work ethic, safety, wages and benefits.
I support worker's rights over the rights of corporations and their billionaire bosses every time. Unions have gotten a bad rap in this country, largely because corporate lobbyists have tried to smear them and paint them all as corrupt just because a few have been.
Yes, unions should have to follow rules and be transparent, but workers' rights must be placed above the needs of capitalism. If workers can't do their jobs safely and earn a fair livable wage, then why work?
I hope Congress passes this one this time.
YES!!!!! We all know that workers get screwed by companies if they don't have protections, such as union and/or gov. All workers should have the right to these protections. With that said, I do believe that unions should bargain for reasonable measures when they bargin with their companies. There will always be tension between unions and companies, but I believe that when you make outlandish demands you will meet with more hostility than a willingness to negotiate in good faith. Greed on either side is a sure way to lead to a strike and a stirke that goes on a lengthy time is going to hurt everyone.
3rd time this legislation has been brought for a vote as previously it was passed twice by the House but not the Senate.
"the third time the PRO Act has been introduced. The PRO Act passed the House of Representatives in 2020 and 2021 but never reached the floor for a vote in the Senate, where the filibuster requires at least 60 votes to pass most bills."
"...change US labor landscape, including:
-Increased remedies for violations of workers' rights
-Enhanced workers' right to support secondary boycotts
-Ensuring unions can collect "fair share" fees
-Modernizing the union election process
-Facilitating initial collective bargaining agreements
-make it more difficult for employers to classify their employees as supervisors and independent contractors, who are not covered by the National Labor Relations Act
-would require greater transparency in labor-management relations."
https://www.contractormag.com/around-the-web/article/21261187/house-reintroduces-the-pro-act
Yes, protect the right to organize!
In the 1950’s unions were strong in the USA, and our middle class did well. Unions began to decline in the 1980’s due to economic & political developments. “The opening up of overseas markets increased competition in many highly organized industries. Outsourcing emerged as a popular practice….The deregulation of industries not threatened by overseas competition, such as trucking, also placed organized labor at a disadvantage as new nonunion firms gained market edge through lower labor costs. Simultaneously, US employers developed a set of legal, semi-legal and illegal practices that proved effective at ridding establishments of existing unions and preventing nonunion workers from organizing.” It was the beginning of the decline of middle class income.
Not only has the middle class grown smaller, “ but middle-class incomes have not grown at the rate of upper-tier incomes. From 1970 to 2018, the median middle-class income increased from $58,100 to $86,600, a gain of 49%.10 This was considerably less than the 64% increase for upper-income households, whose median income increased from $126,100 in 1970 to $207,400 in 2018.”
So, yes protect unions! Protect our middle class!!!
https://theconversation.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-us-labor-unions-and-why-they-still-matter-38263
https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/01/09/trends-in-income-and-wealth-inequality/
Should We Protect Workers' Rights to Organize? Absolutely, Yes!
Representatives, We most strongly urge you to Support H.R.2, Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2023