Warren Introduces Bill to Repeal ‘Right-to-Work’ Laws Enacted by GOP in 27 States

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts on Thursday reintroduced a bill that would ban anti-union “right-to-work” laws and nullify those enacted by Republican lawmakers in 27 states.

Contrary to what the misleading name suggests, “right-to-work” laws do not guarantee employment to job-seekers. Instead, they prohibit employers and unions from entering into agreements that require every worker covered by a contract to pay union dues—making it harder for organized labor groups to sustain themselves financially, undermining their collective bargaining power, and contributing to lower wages.

“Republicans and their corporate interest backers have imposed state laws with only one goal: destroy unions and discourage workers from organizing for higher wages, fair benefits, and safer working conditions,” Warren said in a statement.

The Nationwide Right to Unionize Act, which would repeal Section 14(b) of the National Labor Relations Act, has 18 co-sponsors in the Senate—all Democrats plus Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Warren previously introduced similar versions of the legislation in 2017 and 2020.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) unveiled a companion bill in the House, where a dozen Democratic co-sponsors, including Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), have signed on so far.

“In an ill-conceived effort to attract business, one state after another has adopted these anti-union laws in a race to the bottom,” said Sherman, who has introduced a version of the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act in every session of Congress since 2008.

Warren and Sherman’s bill has received support from more than a dozen unions and advocacy organizations.

The Nationwide Right to Unionize Act “would finally start prioritizing the interests of workers in our nation’s labor laws, which have always worked in the favor of employers,” Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, said in a statement. “The brave, essential workers who make up the UFCW can attest to the fact that the best way to improve a workplace has always been for workers to organize, form a union, and fight for their rights together.”

A provision banning right-to-work legislation is included in the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a broader Democratic proposal to push U.S. labor law in a more worker-friendly direction. Among other reforms, the bill would also strengthen penalties against employers who engage in illegal union-busting and make it easier for newly unionized workers to finalize their first collective bargaining agreement.

Progressive lawmakers sought to include some measures from the House-passed PRO Act in the reconciliation package approved last month on a party-line vote, but corporate Democrats shot down such efforts.

Biden has endorsed the PRO Act, which, like the Nationwide Right to Organize Act, would repeal right-to-work laws.

Originally published at Commondreams.org.