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Americans for Prosperity Press Release

AFP to Members of Congress: Help Workers by Co-Sponsoring the Employee Rights Act

Mar 22, 2022 by AFP

Newly introduced bill from U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and U.S. Rep. Rick Allen would expand employee rights, protect workers’ flexibility, and improve representation in the workplace

Arlington, Va. – Today, Americans for Prosperity sent a letter to Congress, urging lawmakers to co-sponsor the Employee Rights Act (ERA). The legislation, crafted by U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and U.S. Rep. Rick Allen and introduced this week, would expand employee rights, protect workers’ flexibility, and improve representation in the workplace.

The ERA stands in stark contrast to the deceptively titled Protecting the Right to Organize Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last year, which imposes sweeping and unprecedented restrictions on worker and employer rights alike. Among its many commendable reforms, the ERA puts workers first by:

  • Allowing employees to decide for themselves if they wish for their private, personal information – such as home address and cellphone number – to be shared with union organizers.
  • Requiring secret ballot elections so that Americans can vote on their representation in the workplace the same way they vote for their representation in Congress.
  • Protecting local small business franchise operations by codifying the correct joint-employer standard, which has bipartisan support in Congress.
  • Codifying the correct definition of “employee,” creating consistency across federal law and protecting sharing economy workers and others who wish to remain independent contractors.
  • Requiring that unions receive “opt-in” permission before using member dues for political purposes.

“When it comes to legislation that protects workers’ rights and helps Americans find more opportunities in the 21st century economy, the Employee Rights Act is the gold standard,” said Akash Chougule, Vice President at Americans for Prosperity and former Professional Staff Member on the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee. “Too many lawmakers today – from both parties – believe that the only way to help workers is by expanding collective representation. The Employee Rights Act is unique and refreshing proof that is not the case, which is why its major provisions are overwhelmingly supported by the American people as a whole and by union households specifically.

“We urge lawmakers to stand up for real labor reform that strengthens worker freedom while improving representation in the workplace by co-sponsoring the Employee Rights Act.”

Click here to read the full letter and learn more about why the ERA is a much smarter approach to labor reform than the so-called “PRO” Act.

AFP has been a longtime enthusiastic supporter of the Employee Rights Act. Learn more about the legislation by clicking here.

For media inquiries, please contact Geoff Holtzman, gholtzman@afphq.org.

 

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