Congressman Panetta Votes to Strengthen Workers’ Power in the Workplace

WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, February 6, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) voted to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, to strengthen workers’ power to stand together and negotiate for bigger paychecks, better benefits, and safer working conditions. The PRO Act, which is the most significant upgrade to U.S. labor law in 80 years, is a direct response to the struggle that many hardworking families are facing to keep pace with the rising costs of education, child care, housing, and other basic essentials.

"The PRO Act will strengthen the federal laws that protect workers’ right to join a union. I voted for this bill to help hardworking people by strengthening the basic right of American workers to stand together and negotiate for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions," said Congressman Panetta.

Research consistently shows that workers who are represented by unions earn higher pay, have safer workplaces, and are more likely to have employer-sponsored health care and retirement plans. But, after decades of attacks on workers’ right to organize funded by wealthy special interests, just ten percent of American workers are union members, the lowest rate on record.



The PRO Act:

•                    Introduces meaningful, enforceable penalties for companies and executives that violate workers’ rights;

•                    Protects and expands workers’ power to stand together and negotiate for bigger paychecks, better benefits, and safer working conditions, and closes loopholes that corporations use to exploit workers; and

•                    Strengthens workers’ access to fair union elections and requires corporations to respect the results.