Mackenzie Bouverat is a student at Harvard Law School.
On January 29th, the House Majority leader indicated that the House would this week consider the Protecting the Right to Organize Act. While the bill passed the labor committee in September 2019, it was put on hold until early January, when House leaders received a letter signed by seventy-six House Democrats, urging them to bring the bill up for a vote.
The PROAct amends the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947 (LMRA), and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA). Whereas the proposed amendments to the NLRA substantially expand the rights of private sector workers to organize, the amendments to the LMRA and LMRDA largely seek to bring the provisions of those acts into alignment with the proposed amendments to the NLRA.
One of the PROAct’s primary aims is to address the lack of deterrence for unfair labor practices. To this end, the PROA authorizes the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to assess punitive damages against employers who wrongfully terminate employees. Under the current provisions of the NLRA, wrongfully terminated employees are entitled only to back pay. Further, the PROAct authorizes the imposition of liability on corporate officers or directors who participate in violations of workers rights, or fail to prevent violations of which they were aware.
Under current labor law, workers may turn only to the NLRB General Counsel to enforce their NLRA rights. The proposed bill authorizes a person who is harmed by labor law violations or unfair labor practices to bring a civil action against their employer, as an individual or as part of a class action lawsuit. The PROAct also seeks to rectify the notoriously long wait times for NLRA action against employers who violate labor rights by requiring the NLRB to issue an immediate injunction to reinstate a wrongfully terminated employee while their case is pending. Finally, the PROA empowers the NLRB to enforce its own rulings, in lieu of its current dependence on judicial enforcement by the Court of Appeals.
The bill presently has 218 sponsors–just enough votes to ensure its passage in the House–but commentators expect it will be “dead on arrival” in the Republican Senate. Nevertheless, the Act signals the direction the Democrats might take should they regain control of the Senate.
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August 16
The NLRB files an injunction against the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Cal/OSHA heat enforcement rates have fallen; Walgreens pharmacy workers hope to unionize.
August 15
Thousands of hotel workers across the country vote to authorize strikes; New Jersey enacts whistle blower protections for immigrant workers; and DOL enters into settlement agreement with poultry processing plant following death of teenaged worker.
August 14
UAW filed unfair labor practice charges against former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Starbucks appointed an anti-labor CEO, and Tim Walz made his first solo campaign speech to a union audience.
August 13
ALJ rules against ACLU; Teamsters win right to picket Amazon; Illinois captive audience ban challenged
August 12
V.P. Harris backs no taxes on tips; Crooked Media workers win contract; EFAA ruling
August 11
UAW's federal monitor criticized for involving himself in the Union's Gaza stance; EPA staffers win scientific integrity protections; DOJ working group asks for stronger federal protections against sexual misconduct.