House to Take Up Major Federal Labor Law Legislation
Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) led legislation to expand union worker rights through House committee last month. This week, the entire House chamber is expected to move forward with the legislation entitled the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2019 or HR 2474.
Rep. Scott introduced HR 2474 in May as “comprehensive legislation to strengthen protections for workers’ rights to organize a union and bargain for higher wages,” according to a release from his office.
The PRO Act would amend the National Labor Relations Act and related labor laws to extend protections to union workers. Specifically, it:
“Revises the definition of "employee" and "supervisor" to prevent employers from classifying employees as exempt from labor law protections,
Expands unfair labor practices to include prohibitions against replacement of or discrimination against workers who participate in strikes,
Makes it an unfair labor practice to require or coerce employees to attend employer meetings designed to discourage union membership,
Permits workers to participate in collective or class action litigation,
Allows injunctions against employers engaging in unfair labor practices involving discharge or serious economic harm to an employee,
Expands penalties for labor law violations, including interference with the National Labor Relations Board or causing serious economic harm to an employee, and
Allows any person to bring a civil action for harm caused by labor law violations or unfair labor practices.”
The legislation was voted out of the Committee on Education and Labor in a 26 to 21 party line vote. It currently has 218 House cosponsors including three Republican members. The Senate companion legislation has 40 cosponsors including one independent but has not moved through committee yet. If the full House passes the legislation this week, it will be sent to the Senate for consideration.
