Worker Power Update

On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of Senators and Members of Congress reintroduced the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which strengthens the right of workers to form a union and negotiate for better pay, benefits, and working conditions. The House bill was introduced by Representatives Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and in the Senate by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

During the announcement event at the U.S. Capitol, CWA Member Kirsten Civick, who formed a union with her co-workers at the Apple Penn Square store in Oklahoma City, Okla., discussed the conditions that fueled the workers’ organizing campaign and described Apple’s attempts to prevent them from forming a union.

“Weak labor laws allow companies like Apple to conduct union busting tactics in the hopes of scaring workers from organizing,” Civick said. “The PRO Act would put power back in the hands of workers to make our own decisions about forming a union without the risk of losing our jobs. The bill imposes real penalties for breaking the law because right now, it seems like companies can get away with pretty much anything with little to no consequence. It also bans the mandatory anti-union meetings that we faced.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler joined Sen. Sanders and Rep. Scott at the event, where they discussed the importance of unions for building a strong middle class and improving the lives of workers and families.

The House of Representatives passed the PRO Act in 2021 in a bipartisan vote, but the bill stalled in the Senate due to the outdated filibuster rule, which requires supermajority support to pass most legislation. Support remains strong for the PRO Act and enacting the bill is a top priority for CWA members.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (right) spoke at an event at the U.S. Capitol to reintroduce the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. Other speakers in support of the bill included CWA Member Kirsten Civick (left), AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler, and Rep. Bobby Scott.