A Senate panel has approved legislation seeking to address wage discrimination, sick leave, and collective bargaining rights. The Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, chaired by Sen. Bernie Sanders, advanced the following bills:
PRO Act: The Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act seeks to revise the definition of employee to broaden the scope of individuals covered by fair labor standards. The Act would also enhance certain workforce rules addressing union organizing and collective bargaining. The PRO Act was heavily debated in committee.
According to Sanders’ office, “The PRO Act would make it easier, not harder, for workers to join unions and successfully secure a first union contract. At a time when there has been a significant increase in the desire of workers to join unions, we cannot allow large corporate interests to continue to break the law, and deny their employees the constitutional right to organize.”
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) represented Republican opposition at the hearing. According to Cassidy, the PRO Act would eliminate secret ballot elections for unionization, the “gold standard” which he said protects workers from intimidation and retaliation. Cassidy said the PRO Act would also eliminate right-to-work statutes in 26 states, “forcing workers against their will to unionize.”
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