[ [link removed] ]Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Congress




This Labor Day, we’re breaking down the most urgent way we can support
workers right now.

We have the opportunity to protect unions and expand labor rights by
passing the Protecting the Right to Organize Act – known as the PRO Act.
The PRO Act passed in the House, but we need to put more pressure on to
get it passed in the Senate.

First, why unions?

A union gives workers the ability to act together to advocate for safe
working conditions, improve their wages and benefits, and protect their
rights through collective bargaining and action.

Nationwide, union workers make 13.2% more in wages than nonunion workers
and are more likely to have employer-provided pensions, health insurance,
and other benefits.^1

Studies show that unions reduce inequality and are essential for low- and
middle-wage workers’ to get their fair share of economic growth.^2 We know
that declining unionization beginning in the 1970s has fueled rising
inequality and stalled economic progress for the middle class.

In addition, giving workers a voice and leverage is essential for
democracy. Unions increase participation in political causes and have been
proven effective at getting people to the polls.^3

Why the decline in unionization?

Current labor laws do far too little to protect workers who exercise their
right to form or join a union.

Employers frequently threaten, harass, and intimidate workers who seek to
form or join a union, even firing union activists. It’s a major reason why
the share of workers in unions has decreased from 33.2% in 1956 to 10.7%
in 2016.^4

What would the PRO Act do?

The PRO Act would strengthen protections for workers who want to unionize
by supporting workers who suffer retaliation from their employers and
enhance the rights of workers to boycott, strike, and take other
collective action.

It would prevent employers from using loopholes to deny pay, benefits, and
rights to employees and forbid employer interference in union elections.

This law would make it illegal for employers to use company-sponsored
meetings with mandatory attendance to lobby against a union-organizing
drive and establish monetary penalties for companies that violate workers’
rights.

Lastly, it would prevent an employer from using an employee’s immigration
status against them when determining the terms of their employment.

What’s next?

In May, we joined the Democratic Socialists of America to reach voters in
states where crucial Senators have yet to sign onto the PRO Act.

Together we made 934,000 dials across Arizona, Maine, West Virginia,
Virginia, and Alaska talking to voters about why we need to pass the PRO
Act and rebuild our labor movement.

By building that pressure coming from people across the country, we
flipped Senator Angus King of Maine and Senator Joe Manchin of West
Virginia to support the PRO Act. But we still need more Senators to step
up.

Together, we can build the largest unionized workforce in history that
will fight and win for working families across the country. Please stay
tuned for more updates and ways you can help pass the PRO Act.

In solidarity,

Team AOC

 

1 - [ [link removed] ]Economic Policy Institute
2 - [ [link removed] ]Economic Policy Institute
3 - "[ [link removed] ]What Unions No Longer Do" - Jake Rosenfeld
4 - [ [link removed] ]Economic Policy Institute


 

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