The PRO Act would set American workers back at the worst possible time | Tim Phillips and Senator Rand Paul
The Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or the PRO Act, would undermine independent contracting, erode workers’ rights, and undo much of the progress we’ve made since the COVID-19 pandemic began, write Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips and Senator Rand Paul in a recent op-ed for Fox Business.
The bill would, among other things, prevent many Americans from working as independent contractors and scrap every right-to-work law in the country, all for the benefit of union leaders. As Paul and Phillips explain:.
Supporters of the bill claim companies are exploiting independent contractors. But there’s simply no evidence for that claim. In fact, nearly 80 percent of independent contractors say they prefer their flexible work arrangements. Why should we assume members of Congress understand the interests of these workers better than they do?
What’s more, this bill gets the facts of right-to-work laws dead wrong. Right-to-work states typically experience faster manufacturing and overall job growth, greater growth in household consumption, and higher disposable and overall cost of living adjusted incomes. That’s why 74 members of the House of Representatives have signed onto the National Right to Work Act — with 16 senators supporting the Senate version — which would ensure that union membership is purely voluntary and will protect workers from being fired if they opt-out of joining a union.
The PRO Act was passed by the House last month and now awaits consideration in the Senate. Senators should reject this bill, the op-ed’s authors argue.
“Unfortunately, the PRO Act would represent a step backward in the progress we’ve made since the pandemic hit our shores and make it more difficult for Americans to earn a living for themselves and their families,” they wrote. “The American people oppose its provisions. Lawmakers should, too.”
You can read the whole thing at FoxBusiness.com. Then, email your lawmaker and tell them to oppose the PRO Act.
