The Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act, has passed the House of Representatives, and now waits for a vote in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated to labor leaders that the bill will get a vote when it has 50 co-sponsors. It currently has 47. Pressure from labor groups is increasing on the remaining holdouts – Mark Warner from Virginia, and Mark Kelly and Kristen Sinema, from Arizona. Manufacturers should be watching closely, as it has also been suggested that Senate democrats may try to include the PRO Act in the American Jobs Plan, (the infrastructure bill), which may pass through reconciliation, avoiding the filibuster process. Whether that would be allowed under reconciliation rules remains a question.

The PRO Act makes over 50 changes to current labor law. Just a few elements that are on the line in this legislative fight are:

• Ends State-level Right to Work protections
• Elimination of secret ballot union elections, leaving employees exposed to potential intimidation
• Pro-union activists can confront and picket your customers and supply chain to pressure your company during union negotiations
• Requires your company to provide union organizers with the private contact information of your employees, without employee consent
• Prevents your company from requiring employees to attend meetings communicating your company’s perspective on unionizing
• Narrows the definition of private contractors for the purposes of union elections

This list is just a small part of the changes in this proposed bill. You should contact your Senators to let them know how your company will be impacted by this law. You can send a message to Congress using this tool from NAM:     https://act.nam.org/as0AnR9

And watch for news on this important issue. AWPA will provide additional information as this bill continues to move through the Senate.