Dear John,

In April, union organizers celebrated an historic victory when a supermajority of Chattanooga's Volkswagen workers -- about 75% -- voted to join the UAW. This marks the first time since the 1940s that an automobile plant in the South voted to unionize, and the first time ever for a foreign automaker.

Now the UAW is preparing for its next union vote at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Alabama in mid-May. The UAW reports that 5,200 out of 6,100 Mercedes-Benz workers -- a whopping 85% -- have already signed cards to join.

These trends have been met by a massive backlash from Republican governors throughout the South. Six governors, from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, signed a statement warning that voting for a union could cost workers their jobs.

With right-wing coercion attempts on the heels of a string of union victories, it’s more crucial than ever that Congress pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, to preserve workers’ rights to form a union and bargain collectively. Click here to sign the petition and show your support.

The PRO Act will expand employee protections to support the right to organize without facing harassment from corporate management. It prohibits firing or discrimination against striking workers, and it prohibits requiring employees to attend “captive audience” meetings designed to discourage union membership.

The PRO Act also prohibits employers from requiring workers to waive their rights to pursue collective litigation, and it allows unions to encourage workers to participate in “secondary” strikes called by other labor organizations. It allows collective bargaining agreements to charge employees fees to cover the cost of representation.

In addition, certain “whistleblower” actions by employees, including managers, are protected from retaliation by the employer, including providing information about violations to the enforcement agency, and initiating, assisting, or participating in enforcement actions. Employers are also prohibited from retaliating against an employee who refuses to participate in violating labor laws.

The union protections in the PRO Act are vital and necessary to ensure workers’ freedom of association, as guaranteed in the First Amendment. Demand Congress stand up for workers’ rights and pass the PRO Act by adding your name now.

Thank you for showing up for America’s workers.

Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action