Senators Introduce Legislation to Shield against “Right to Work” Laws

Senator Elizabeth Warren- Press Release
September 20, 2017

Washington, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) today introduced the Protecting Workers and Improving Labor Standards Act, to prohibit states from introducing laws that it harder for workers to form unions and fight for higher wages and better working conditions.  The legislation introduced today would repeal section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act, which currently gives states the ability to ban union security agreements - so-called "right-to-work" laws.  The introduction comes days before the third round of renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are set to take place in Ottawa.  An evaluation of state "right-to-work" laws is part of the renegotiation of NAFTA given their impact on worker rights and workplace protections.

Additional Senate cosponsors include Senators Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.).  Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) today announced that he will introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives, along with 5 of his colleagues.

Read the full press release at the Senator Elizabeth Warren website here.