BOYLE STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF THE PRO ACT

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) released the following statement regarding U.S. House passage today of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act), legislation that he co-led to passage in the House, and legislation that is the most significant upgrade to U.S. labor law in 80 years.

"When unions are strong, our economy is strong," said Congressman Boyle. "Unions are essential to rebuilding the American middle class, and in Philadelphia, they are the backbone of our city. Our unions ensure workers have high wages, strong benefits, and safe working conditions. The PRO Act guarantees workers have the power to stand together, and it prevents employers from engaging in union busting tactics. It will shift the balance of power back towards our workforce at a time when too many workers are being exploited and put in harm's way. I'm proud to once again serve as a co-lead for this bill in Congress and vote in favor of this much-needed legislation. Today's passage of the PRO Act reaffirms Congress' promise to stand by America's working people."

Research consistently shows that workers who are represented by unions earn higher pay, have safer workplaces, and are more likely to have employer-sponsored health care and retirement plans. But, after decades of attacks on workers' right to organize funded by wealthy special interests, just ten percent of American workers are union members, the lowest rate on record.

The decline in union membership has coincided with a rise in income inequality. Over the past three decades, as union density declined from its peak of more than 30 percent in the 1970s, the average income for the bottom 90 percent of families stayed the same, while average incomes for the wealthiest one percent nearly doubled.

In response to the continued anti-labor attacked funded by wealthy special interests, the PRO Act makes comprehensive and necessary changes to protect and strengthen workers' rights.

The PRO Act:

Introduces meaningful, enforceable penalties for companies and executives that violate workers' rights;
Protects and expands workers' power to stand together and negotiate for bigger paychecks, better benefits, and safer working conditions, and closes loopholes that corporations use to exploit workers;
Strengthens workers' access to fair union elections and requires corporations to respect the results; and
Ends right-to-work laws that undermine union operations.
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