The New Jersey State AFL-CIO thanks and congratulates the New Jersey delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives for co-sponsoring and voting for the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which was approved by the House on Feb. 6, 2020.
The PRO Act – officially, H.R. 2474— is the most extensive restructuring of U.S. labor law since the 20th century.
The PRO Act amends the National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) of 1935, the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, among others. It would eliminate right-to-work laws, impose harsh new penalties on employers who retaliate against union organizing, crack down on worker misclassification, and set up new rules so that employers cannot delay negotiating collective bargaining contracts.
The bill was passed by the House of Representatives 224-194-12, with 219 Democrats and 5 Republicans in favor, and 7 Democrats, 186 Republicans and 1 Independent against. Six Democrats and six Republicans recorded no vote.
It now goes to the Senate for consideration. The state AFL-CIO urges all senators and President Donald J. Trump to support this pro-labor bill.
In the New Jersey delegation, all representatives voted in favor of the bill:
Donald Norcross, D-1st District; Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd District; Andy Kim, D-3rd District; Chris Smith, R-4th District; Josh Gottheimer, D-5th District; Frank Pallone Jr., D-6th District; Tom Malinowski, D-7th District; Albio Sires, D-8th District; Bill Pascrell Jr., D-9th District; Donald Payne Jr., D-10th District; Mikie Sherrill, D-11th District; and Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th District.
When we unite, we are strong.
Our national labor leader is pleased
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!
From a New Jersey labor congressman
“I know how important it is to give workers a voice and protect them from unfair labor practices because I lived it,” said Rep. Donald Norcross, D-1st District, a former business agent for IBEW Local 351 and president of the Southern New Jersey AFL-CIO. “I fought for New Jerseyans at the negotiating table for decades. Workers win when they can band together and collectively bargain for safer workplaces, higher wages and better benefits.
“Today, my colleagues and I took a major leap forward in restoring fairness to an economy that’s rigged against workers. I urge the Senate to act swiftly and pass the PRO Act to level the playing field for American workers and their families.”