AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the House passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (H.R. 2474):
I applaud the U.S. House for passing the PRO Act. Make no mistake, this is the most significant step Congress has taken to strengthen labor laws in the United States in 85 years and a win for workers everywhere.
America’s labor laws are no longer an effective means for working people to have our voices heard. The long overdue PRO Act will provide significant protections for workers exercising our legal right to form a union, a right that’s been trampled on for decades by union-busting consultants and anti-worker politicians.
The PRO Act is the labor movement’s number one legislative priority this year for a reason. Working people are hungry for a bill that will ensure a process for reaching a first contract once a union is recognized, prevent the misclassification of employees, protect the right to strike and so much else. America is ready for more unions; and a happier, healthier and upwardly mobile workforce will help reverse the inequality of income, opportunity and power that is threatening our families, our communities and our democracy.
This bill is for working people—and President Trump’s veto threat, though replete with inaccuracies and distortions, speaks volumes about who he is really fighting for. But our movement is bigger than any party or politician, and we will not rest until the PRO Act is the law of the land and the rights of workers are restored!
Contact: Kalina Newman (202) 637-5018