New York’s U.S. senators announced they have reintroduced the protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a measure that would strengthen workers’ rights to organize and bargain for fairer wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. The pro-union legislation would “bolster” workers’ rights and address the “income inequality crisis that has been exacerbated” by the pandemic, U.S. Senate […]
New York’s U.S. senators announced they have reintroduced the protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a measure that would strengthen workers’ rights to organize and bargain for fairer wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces.
The pro-union legislation would “bolster” workers’ rights and address the “income inequality crisis that has been exacerbated” by the pandemic, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) contended in a Feb. 19 news release.
The PRO Act seeks to protect workers’ rights by establishing solutions and “implementing safeguards” against violations of workers’ rights by penalizing employers who violate workers’ rights; supporting workers who suffer retaliation for exercising their rights; and authorizing a private right of action for violation of workers’ rights.
The bill would also reinforce workers’ rights to join together and negotiate for better working conditions by providing rights to secondary boycotts, collecting “fair share” fees, modernizing the union election process, and facilitating initial collective-bargaining agreements.
The senators also say the bill would address ambiguous wording that they contend allows employers to misclassify their employees as supervisors and independent contractors.
The U.S. House of Representatives previously passed the PRO Act in February 2020, but the then-Republican-controlled Senate did not take up the measure. The Democrats are now in control of the Senate with a 50-50 breakdown of seats, because Vice President Harris can cast tiebreaking votes.
Business and free-enterprise groups such as the Competitive Enterprise Institute have previously criticized the PRO Act’s proposals as damaging to the economy, workers, and consumers (https://cei.org/onpoint/the-case-against-the-protecting-the-right-to-organize-act/).
