Schatz, Senators Introduce Legislation To Protect The Rights Of American Workers
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) joined U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and 44 Senate Democrats to reintroduce the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a bill to protect workers' rights to unionize, negotiate better pay, and secure safer workplaces.
“Workers deserve to be able to organize, negotiate fair wages, and advocate for better working conditions without interference,” said Senator Schatz. “The PRO Act strengthens those fundamental rights and makes sure the rules aren’t stacked against working people. When unions are strong, wages go up, workplaces are safer, and the economy works better for everyone.”
In 2024, Hawai‘i’s union membership was the highest in the nation with more than 25 percent of employed wage and salary workers belonging to collective-bargaining units, exceeding the nationwide average of nearly 10 percent.
“Strong unions lead to higher wages, safer workplaces, and fairer economies. Union rights have been under attack and have been eroded for decades now. Passing the PRO Act is a critical step toward reversing that trend and protecting worker rights and economic justice for all. On behalf of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), we say Mahalo to Senator Schatz for his courage, support, and leadership in advancing this crucial legislation, especially in these difficult political times,” said Ryden “Bully” Valmoja, Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer, IUPAT, District Council 50, Hawai‘i.
Through the power of collective bargaining, the typical union worker earns 16 percent more than the typical non-union worker. Yet despite growing support for unions, attacks on the rights of workers, unions, and labor laws have eroded union participation and made it harder for workers to organize. The share of American workers who are union members has fallen from roughly one in three workers in 1956 to a new low of less than 10 percent in 2024.
The PRO Act strengthens workers’ protections by enforcing their right to unionize and bargain for better wages, benefits, and safety. It imposes meaningful penalties on employers who violate these rights, supports workers facing retaliation, and allows them to sue for violations. The bill also expands collective bargaining power by protecting secondary boycotts, ensuring fair-share fees, modernizing union elections, and streamlining contract negotiations. Finally, it closes loopholes that let employers misclassify workers and increases transparency in labor relations.
The PRO Act is endorsed by the AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Autoworkers (UAW), United Steelworkers (USW), Communications Workers of America (CWA), National Nurses United (NNU), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), the American Federation of Musicians, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA), Transport Workers Union (TWU), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT).
The full text of the bill is available here.
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