U.S. House and Senate Democrats recently reintroduced the union-friendly Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2021. According to its sponsors, the PRO Act “restores fairness to the economy by strengthening the federal laws that protect workers’ right to organize a union and bargain for higher wages and better benefits.” Discussing the legislation last month, House Speaker Pelosi stated that “[w]ith American workers seeing their lives and livelihoods devastated by the ongoing pandemic and economic crisis, the re-introduction of the PRO Act is more important than ever.” With President Biden in the White House and Democrats in control of the House and Senate, the PRO Act has gained new traction.
If enacted, the PRO Act would make several significant and sweeping changes to the federal labor law landscape, including but not limited to the following:
Whether the PRO Act will become law remains to be seen, although it has gained new life under the current Congress. If enacted, employers (both union and non-union environments) will need to reevaluate their employment agreements, policies, and practices to ensure they are aligned with the PRO Act requirements. We will continue to monitor its progress and provide any relevant updates.