Workers’ disenchantment with union representation has created a real crisis for union bosses. But instead of increasing transparency and accountability to serve their members better, union leaders are exerting their political influence to demand radical national labor laws that would allow them to consolidate power, coerce workers, line their own pockets, and bolster their own political agendas.
118th Congress
The (PRO) Union Bosses Act
Press Releases/Blogs
Foxx Slams Reintroduction of Radical (PRO) Union Bosses Act February 28, 2023
“The PRO Act is a key tenet of the Left’s agenda, a radical wish list of union boss priorities which undermines the rights of workers. To my Democrat colleagues and their union allies, I have one simple message: The era of Big Labor in the Committee is over, and putting the demands of union bosses above the interests of America’s workers and job creators will stop. In the 118th Congress, Education and the Workforce Committee Republicans are charting a new course, one that puts the needs of America’s workforce, innovators, independent contractors, and job creators first—and we will not be deterred in doing so.” - Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC).
Statements of Opposition from Key Stakeholders
Associated Builders and Contractors
“Democrats in Congress are attempting to increase union membership at the expense of employees’ rights to privacy, employers’ constitutional right to free speech and opportunities for small businesses. Reintroduction of the PRO Act means some lawmakers are catering to union demands for legislation that clearly threatens the livelihoods of small business owners, their employees and independent contractors.”
Coalition for a Democratic Workplace
“We are disappointed members of Congress are willing to cater to union demands for legislation that clearly threatens the livelihoods of small business owners and is an open attack on the franchise and self employment business models that have fueled innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation. Simply put, the PRO Act would be a disaster. Congress should immediately reject this legislation and protect the rights of workers and employers across the nation.”
National Right to Work Committee
“The fact is that compulsory unionism exerts a corrupting and economically destructive influence on all aspects of American life. Right to Work brings freedom to American workers, accountability to American unions and jobs to American cities. The Pushbutton Unionism Bill seeks to rob 27 states of the benefits that their Right to Work laws have produced, and would preclude other states from also protecting their workers from forced fees.”
Retail Industry Leaders Association
“…[T]he PRO Act would not only limit the rights of employers and workers but create substantial economic disruption by eliminating decades of long checks on abusive activities by union leaders. RILA strongly opposes this legislation because it undermines the balanced relationship between workers and businesses in favor of organized labor.”
Direct Selling Association
“DSA respectfully opposes the current bill because it contains damaging changes to current law that could undermine the flexibility afforded the millions of individuals direct sellers across the country who don’t want NLRA to apply to them. Through the more than 100 years direct sellers have been active contributors to the American economy, the individuals engaged in the business have always been considered independent contractors. Most importantly, these individuals want to work independently. It is their primary motivation for joining and staying with direct selling companies.”
Associated General Contractors of America
"[T]he PRO Act will unleash a new era of labor unrest and strikes that the country has not seen since President Truman had to federalize the steel industry during the Korean War. Worse, the Pro Act undermines the collective bargaining process that has been the central pillar of union construction for the past half century."
American Hotel and Lodging Association
“The lodging industry has long provided a pathway for fulfilling careers and the means for employees and entrepreneurs to achieve the American Dream. Unfortunately, the PRO Act, reintroduced in Congress this week, would undermine workplace flexibility and upward mobility for workers and create extensive and costly regulatory burdens for small business owners. While every worker has the right to freely join a union, the PRO Act would encroach upon worker privacy, subvert secret ballot elections and manufacture joint employer liability in an effort to impose a union on businesses and workers. We strongly oppose this damaging bill, which threatens to destroy jobs and assail businesses just as our economy is beginning to return to pre-pandemic normalcy.”
Coalition for Workforce Innovation
"Simply put, the legislation would compromise the ability of independent workers to flexibly choose when, where, how, and the frequency they wish to work. These aspects of independent work are absent from an employment relationship and will frustrate and limit the economic opportunities of workers who currently choose to work independently."
Americans for Prosperity
"Instead of fostering an environment of cooperative relationships between employers, workers, and labor unions, the PRO Act would undermine the choice and dignity of individual workers while granting unequal privileges to labor unions and destroying career paths for millions of self-employed workers."
Customized Logistics and Delivery Association
"The PRO Act threatens to upset the carefully-struct balance between employer rights and union rights in labor negotiations by expressly eliminating employers as a party in elections. Unfortunately, the bill also removes the ability of workers to hold secret ballots to decide whether or not they should join a union."
Intermodal Association of North America
"The legislation essentially eliminates the independent contractor model for motor carriers involved in intermodal drayage. Disruption caused by this wholesale destruction of this existing business model will have an adverse effect upon the entire intermodal supply chain, injuring not only motor carriers, but also rail and ocean carriers, third-party logistics companies, and the customers they serve."
What They’re Saying
“[The PRO Act] could increase employment costs by anywhere from $18 – $61 billion and put up to $2.3 trillion of gross domestic product at risk.”
Read more: https://www.americanactionforum.org/insight/economic-costs-of-the-pro-act-update/#ixzz7vIZ1JLkQ
117th Congress
H.R. 842, the (PRO) Union Bosses Act
Hearings/Markups
NOT ONE committee hearing or markup has been held during the 117th Congress to consider this radical, union boss wish list, ultimately silencing Members of the minority, especially new Committee members, from having a voice and serving their constituents. Such a radical bill deserves a thorough, bipartisan examination in the committee of jurisdiction as long-established House rules require.
Press Releases/Blogs
ICYMI: #PROUnionBosses Act Radio Tour March 11, 2021
"Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC) joined radio stations in right to work states, drawing attention to the disastrous PRO Act, radical legislation that is a political gift to union bosses, undermines workers’ rights, destroys jobs, and will cost employers billions in new annual costs..."
ICYMI: Democrats Ram #PROUnionBosses Act Through the House March 11, 2021
"Republican Leader of the Education and Labor Committee Virginia Foxx (R-NC) spoke on the House floor in opposition to H.R. 842, calling it “an assault on American workers, employers, and the economy..."
Foxx on Democrat Passage of Job Killing #PROUnionBosses Act March 9, 2021
"This bill is a union boss wish list intended to reward Big Labor and special interest groups for their political support..."
WATCH: Foxx Slams Democrats’ #PROUnionBosses Act March 9, 2021
"This radical legislation is a political gift to union bosses that undermines workers’ rights, destroys jobs, and would cost employers billions in new annual costs..."
ICYMI: Foxx Blasts Anti-Worker #PROUnionBosses Act March 9, 2021
"Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC) joined House Republican Leaders at a press conference to discuss the radical, anti-worker “PRO Union Bosses Act,” which the House is expected to pass later today..."
Democrats’ #PROUnionBosses Act: What They’re Saying March 9, 2021
"H.R. 842 is radical, backwards-looking legislation that will diminish the rights of workers and employers while harming the economy and providing a political gift to labor union special interests..."
Harming Workers, Helping Union Bosses March 9, 2021
"Among the bill’s most harmful and sweeping provisions would apply California’s unworkable and discredited ABC test to determine employee status in every state in the union..."
Media Advisory: Foxx Joins Republican Leadership to Discuss Anti-Worker PRO Act March 9, 2021
"Today at 10:00 a.m. ET, Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC) will join House Republican Leaders to discuss the radical, anti-worker PRO Union Bosses Act, which the House is expected to vote on this week..."
Foxx, Small Business Owner, Freelancer Join Top Women’s Organization to Discuss Anti-Worker PRO Act March 8, 2021
"Today at 3:30 p.m. ET, Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC) will discuss the radical, anti-worker PRO Union Bosses Act, which the House is expected to vote on this week..."
Foxx Slams Democrats’ #PROUnionBosses Act February 4, 2021
“A new Congress, but we are seeing the same ill-advised and misguided schemes being offered by the Democrats. Sweeping legislation which redraws the playing field to favor union bosses sends a clear message: House Democrats’ allegiance is with Big Labor, not workers or small businesses…”
Statements from Key Stakeholders on Reintroduction
Direct Selling Association
"By adopting the restrictive "ABC" test for independent contractors, the legislation would do more harm than good by reducing flexibility for those who prioritize the benefits of creating their own schedule..."
American Bakers Association
"The PRO Act will negatively impact the wholesale baking industry by diminishing employees’ rights to privacy and association, making it harder for employers to secure legal advice on complex labor law matters..."
Coalition for Workforce Innovation
"By adopting the restrictive “ABC” test for independent contractors, the legislation would do more harm than good by reducing flexibility for those who prioritize the benefits of creating their own schedule – such as students, parents, small entrepreneurs, and retirees..."
Associated General Contractors of America
“The PRO Act is anti-worker, anti-privacy and anti-recovery. The measure threatens workers’ absolute right to a free, fair and secret union ballot. There is something fundamentally un-American about subjecting workers to intimidation and coercion when it comes to deciding whether and how to organize and seek representation at the workplace…”
Retail Industry Leaders Association
“This legislation seeks to bring back detrimental employment policies to prop up unions at the expense of employee rights, worker protections, innovation, and growth…”
Associated Builders and Contractors
“This bill includes dozens of radical provisions that will drastically alter federal labor law and devastate the economy during an already difficult time, with many construction businesses working to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic…”
Coalition for a Democratic Workplace
“In an attempt to increase union membership at any cost, the bill would make radical changes to well-established law, diminish employees’ rights to privacy and association, destroy businesses, particularly small ones, and threaten entire industries that have fueled innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation…”
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
“This legislation strips workers of their privacy, threatens private ballots, imposes California's disastrous independent contractor test, jeopardizes employers' right to free speech, and threatens the loss of a job should workers choose not to pay union dues. This bill is a threat to America's workers, employers, and our economy…”
Letters of Opposition
Americans for Tax Reform
"The PRO Act is a return on the investment of the hundreds of millions of dollars that Big Labor poured into the Democrat party's campaigns to capture the House, Senate, and White House..."
National Taxpayers Union
"The PRO Act contains a laundry list of items that would increase the coercive power of big labor unions under the guise of being pro-worker..."
International Franchise Association
"Polarizing policy proposals, such as an expanded standard for joint employer and the “ABC” independent contractor test, which would coerce broad unionization across franchised systems to the point that franchisees would be treated as employees, would hamper the economic recovery..."
FreedomWorks
"The PRO Act is one of the most anti-worker and anti-business bills that we have ever seen brought to the House floor..."
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
"The PRO Act would apply nationwide the problematic definition of independent contractors enacted by California in a statute known as AB-5. That statute has made the legitimate use of independent contractors extremely difficult in the state. It is causing significant challenges for a wide array of businesses and has resulted in job losses..."
Americans for Prosperity
"Instead of fostering an environment of cooperative relationships between employers, workers, and labor unions, the PRO Act deprives workers of fundamental rights, eliminates employment opportunities for those seeking financial independence, imposes tens of billions of dollars of additional costs on small businesses, and will do irreparable harm to our economic recovery at a time when we can least afford it..."
National Retail Federation
"As bad as this bill is for employers, it is worse for workers. It would limit workers’ free choice in union elections, repeal right-to-work protections in 27 states, and eviscerate critical employee privacy rights..."
National Association of Home Builders
"This legislation contains dozens of sweeping labor law revisions that would negatively affect the construction labor market as the economy fights to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and gut the contracting business model that serves as the foundation of the residential construction sector..."
Joint Trade Associations
"This legislation seeks to change the definition of “independent contractor” in a way that would cause significant disruption to the independent financial services and property casualty insurance industries and the customers we serve..."
National Restaurant Association
"The PRO Act would not only disrupt the workplace by upending well-established labor laws, it would compromise our economic recovery by jeopardizing investments made by the federal government on COVID relief programs, essentially setting fire to billions in taxpayer dollars..."
Independent Electrical Contractors
"Secret ballots are a vital component of a functioning democracy, but the PRO Act vastly increases the circumstances under which the government could impose union representation despite employees voting against such representation in a secret ballot election..."
National Association of Manufacturers
"The PRO Act is a misguided attempt to fundamentally restructure American workplaces and would infringe on workers’ rights to a secret ballot, workplace democracy and personal privacy..."
National Association of Wholesalers-Distributors
"H.R. 842 is a transparent thank you gift to national unions for their election help in 2020. Congress should focus on keeping businesses open and workers employed during this pandemic, rather than giving blatant handouts to organized labor by attempting to increase the number of dues-paying union members at the expense of workers, small and local businesses, and entrepreneurs..."
Retail Industry Leaders Association
"...the PRO Act would not only limit the rights of employers and workers but create substantial economic disruption by eliminating decades long checks on abusive activities by union leaders..."
Associated General Contractors of America
"The PRO Act has become organized labor’s wish list of labor law changes with little or no regard to its impact on employers that provide good-paying jobs and create economic opportunities for their employees..."
Americans for Prosperity
“The PRO Act represents an unprecedented assault on the American economy, particularly troubling in the midst of a pandemic when tens of thousands of small businesses have already been shuttered, millions more are struggling to keep their doors open, and workers are in desperate need of greater flexibility and opportunity to pursue work that allows them to juggle multiple priorities…”
National Federation of Independent Business
“This radical legislation would dramatically upend long-standing employment law in favor of labor unions at the expense of small businesses and employees…”
Franchise Coalition
"Polarizing policy proposals, such as those that prohibit fair representation, coerce broad unionization across franchised systems and restrict independent contractor qualifications to the point that franchisees would be treated as employees, would hamper the economic recovery..."
What They’re Saying
Independent Women’s Forum: Women’s Workplace Gains Will Suffer Under The PRO Act February 17, 2021
The Hill: The PRO Act's 'ABC test' fails American Workers February 16, 2021
JD Supra: A Resurrected PRO Act Could Pay Dividends For Big Labor This Time Around February 9, 2021
Foundation for Economic Education: The Democrats Just Reintroduced a Labor Law that Would Destroy Uber—And It Could Actually Pass This Time February 8, 2021
Fox Business: PRO Act threatens right-to-work laws: Chamber of Commerce, National Right to Work Committee February 5, 2021
Forbes: PRO Act Will Harm, Not Help, Workers January 27, 2021
116th Congress
H.R. 2474, the "Protecting the Right to Organize" (PRO) Act
Hearings and Markups
Press Releases
WSJ Opinion: Big Labor’s Big Crooks March 6, 2020
"Union bosses have a long history of cheating workers out of millions of dollars in hard-earned union dues. It’s no surprise that yesterday’s top headlines included federal prosecutors charging former UAW President Gary Jones, the leader of the union, with embezzling more than $1 million in union dues, racketeering, and tax evasion..."
Democrats Cave to Union Boss Pressure, Pass Radical #PROUnionBosses Act February 6, 2020
"Today, House Democrats passed the so-called Protecting the Right to Organize Act, a radical, far-reaching bill that will allow union bosses to consolidate power, coerce workers, line their own pockets, and bolster their own political agenda..."
Foxx Urges Lawmakers to Oppose Union Boss Wish List February 6, 2020
"Today, the House will vote on a radical, backwards-looking bill that will diminish the rights of workers and employers alike while harming the economy and providing a political gift to union bosses. The so-called Protecting the Right to Organize Act is opposed by thousands of small business owners, trade associations, and free market organizations around the country..."
ICYMI: The PRO Act is bad for employees, economy February 5, 2020
"Ahead of this week’s vote on the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA), Republican Member of the Education and Labor Committee, penned an op-ed for the Williamsport Sun-Gazette highlighting the many devastating impacts the PRO Act will have on our nation’s workers and job creators..."
Ahead of PRO Act Vote, Foxx and Walberg Urge Democrats to Investigate Union Corruption January 30, 2020
“In the time since our second letter was sent to you in November, the two previous UAW Presidents were formally implicated as members of a racketeering enterprise within the union, and the current President—who took over because of the corruption allegations against the former Presidents—has come under federal investigation as well. The racketeering enterprise, highlighted in a new criminal filing against a former UAW Regional Director, embezzled more than $1.5 million in union funds...Instead of investigating the UAW’s egregious wrongdoings, Committee Democrats are ignoring union corruption and lobbying their leadership to pass radical legislation that would overturn all state right-to-work laws—forcing workers who don’t want to join a union to hand over their hard-earned union dues to possibly fund illegal activity...”
Foxx, Walberg Slam Union Corruption Scandal, Reiterate Call to Dems to Investigate November 14, 2019
"In the time since our original letter was sent to you, the current and previous presidents of the UAW have been accused by federal prosecutors of conspiring to embezzle more than $1 million in union member dues, forcing the current president to take a leave of absence; a sixth former UAW official has pled guilty to charges of conspiracy and fraud; a 12th and 13th person have been charged in this brazen scandal; and Committee Democrats on a party-line vote passed H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019, a sweeping union boss wish-list that will increase the likelihood of similar instances of wrongdoing in the future...”
Democrats Pass Union Boss Wish List at Workers Expense September 25, 2019
"The bill before us takes our labor laws backwards. The future of work in America should not be governed by the radical and coercive policies contained in this legislation..."
Foxx, Walberg Urge Committee Dems to Investigate Union Corruption September 19, 2019
“Given this Committee’s jurisdiction over the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA) and other federal statutes governing labor-management relations, we believe it is essential the Committee confront the widespread, brazen lawbreaking by union leaders who purport to represent nearly 150,000 American autoworkers but have betrayed their trust in favor of self-enrichment..."
About that hearing (“Pro Act” Edition) May 9, 2019
"The radical and misguided “PRO Act” (H.R. 2474) hurts the American worker, infringes on his or her individual privacy and Constitutional rights, and does nothing to contribute to a more lucrative and thriving economy..."
Empower Workers, Not Union Bosses March 26, 2019
"Federal law unequivocally protects workers’ right to organize, and Republicans and Democrats respect this right. Nevertheless, organized labor has pushed for changes to federal labor laws that would give union bosses even more power than they already have today..."
Letters of Opposition
National Association of Home Builders
"Implementation of this legislation would come at the cost of small businesses and their workers – stifling communications, infringing on privacy, and stripping the balance from labor-management relations..."
Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association
"The motor vehicle supplier industry has long had a balanced and productive relationship between employers and employees with respect to labor and workforce rules. However, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (H.R. 2474) would shift that balance, resulting in greater costs imposed on suppliers, impacting their ability to manage their workforce and provide jobs..."
Independent Electrical Contractors
“The purpose of this legislation is simply to increase union membership through drastic changes to well-established labor law at the expense of the rights of employees and employers…”
National Retail Federation
"H.R. 2474 would eliminate workers' free choice in union elections, critical privacy rights and right-to-work protections..."
Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.
"H.R. 2474 would drastically reshape the construction industry and America's workplaces by stripping employees and employers of their constitutionally protected rights and hand power over to politically powerful union bosses..."
National Restaurant Association
“This legislation attempts to resurrect failed overreaching policies from the previous administration in an aggressive partisan power-grab that would bolster the power of unions over the interests of employees and their employers...”
60+ Groups to Congress: Defend American Workers from Union Coercion and Oppose the Pro Act
“We oppose the PRO Act because the legislation would harm workers and taxpayers by codifying many Obama-era rules and decisions that led to higher unemployment and a stagnant economy...”
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
"This bill would abolish any sense of balance between union rights and employer rights in labor organizing and negotiations by explicitly eliminating employers as a party in elections to determine if a union would represent that employer's workforce..."
International Franchise Association
"Plainly stated, this legislation would eradicate the franchise business model, which is comprised over 733,000 establishments that employ over 7 million individuals and contribute $674.4 billion of economic output to the U.S. economy..."
American Hotel and Lodging Association
"Our employees are the backbone of our hotels, but without stable and reliable rules and regulations around our workforce, we cannot thrive and continue to offer lifelong careers in our industry..."
Competitive Enterprise Institute
"The Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019 (H.R. 2474) would radically overhaul United States labor relations law to facilitate labor union organizing without regard to the negative consequences on workers, consumers, employers, and the economy..."
American Pipeline Contractors Association
"Like the misguided EFCA, the PRO Act contains provisions that would allow arbitrators with no business experience and no accountability to set contract terms. The arbitrator's decision would be compulsory, regardless of whether the parties find the terms unacceptable or the arbitrator miscalculated what the company can actually afford..."
Power and Communication Contractors Association
"PCCA opposes the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO) Act (HR 2474), which is little more than an attempt to increase union membership at any cost..."
National Association of Manufacturers
"As introduced, the bill erodes the rights of America's workers by stripping them of their privacy, their wages, and their freedom of choice..."
National Federation of Independent Business
"The small business economic engine is on fire. Small businesses are investing in their businesses by creating jobs, increasing compensation, and purchasing new equipment. Infringing upon the freedoms of small business owners and their employees will cause crippling economic damage..."
Society for Human Resource Management
"This legislation requires the disclosure of employees' home addresses, work locations, shifts, job classifications; and, if available, cell and landline numbers along with work and personal email addresses – personally identifiable information that deserves the utmost protection..."
Associated General Contractors of America
"While the bill purports to help workers, it actually strips away many of their rights and privacies while expanding opportunities to coerce law-abiding employers, thereby hurting the economy and upsetting a delicate balance of rights and restrictions established by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the courts, and Congress..."
What They're Saying
The Wall Street Journal: Big Labor’s Big Crooks March 5, 2020
Independent Women's Forum: Congress Pushes Anti-Woman, Anti-Worker PRO Act February 4, 2020
Times of San Diego: Opinion: Echoing California’s AB 5, Congress Now Threatens Independent Contractors February 4, 2020
Insider NJ: Anti-Independent Contractor Law AB5 Is Not Working in California; Other States and Congress Must Avoid the Same Devastating Mistake February 3, 2020
Fox Business: Bill targeting 'right-to-work' laws set for House vote February 3, 2020
The Detroit News: Republican lawmakers call for hearing on 'growing corruption scandal' at UAW January 30, 2020
The Hill: Democrats lurching leftward exemplified with new labor bill November 18, 2019
Washington Free Beacon: House Dems Ignore Call to Investigate UAW After Taking Hundreds of Thousands in Union Cash November 15, 2019
The Epoch Times: House Democrats Move Bill to Abolish Right-to-Work Laws September 24, 2019
The Detroit News: Opinion: Congress protects UAW members as strike continues September 23, 2019
Washington Free Beacon: House Republicans Call on Dems to Investigate Union Corruption September 20, 2019
The Hill: Congress must reject Big Labor-backed PRO Act September 19, 2019
The Hill: PRO Act's stealth 'card check' option gives unions unfair advantage August 9, 2019
Sonoran News: Democrats’ forced labor unionization bill threatens jobs, tramples rights July 26, 2019
Townhall: The PRO Act Is Anti-worker June 28, 2019
Townhall: PRO Act Is Anything But Pro-Worker June 26, 2019
The Hill: New name, same bad ideas: Democrats introduce union wish list May 4, 2019
