Paul and Wilson Introduce National Right to Work Act to End Forced Union Dues for Workers

National Right to Work President applauds legislation that would prevent union officials from extracting union dues from workers as a condition of employment.

Washington, D.C. (February 24, 2021) –Today, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) introduced the National Right to Work Act in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

The one-page bill is designed to end Big Labor’s federally authorized power to force workers to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment.

The National Right to Work Act’s introduction comes at a time when the Right to Work is being threatened by Big Labor’s allies on Capitol Hill.

The contrast for workers could not be clearer, according to Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Committee (NRTWC):

“The National Right to Work Act is a one-page bill that does one simple thing: It lets workers choose for themselves whether a union deserves their support.

“Big Labor’s Pushbutton Unionism Bill, the so-called ‘PRO Act,’ is a massive and monstrous bill giving the union bosses sweeping new powers of coercion over every aspect of the workplace, including the destruction of all 27 state Right to Work laws.

“While union bosses and their pet politicians wage an all-out assault on workers in Right to Work states, Senator Paul and Congressman Wilson are working to expand Right to Work protections to every American and, in doing so, standing with the nearly eight of out ten Americans that oppose forced unionism.”

Mr. Mix issued the following statement praising the introduction of the bill:

“We’re extremely pleased that Senator Paul and Congressman Wilson have introduced the National Right to Work Act, intensifying a growing debate about labor law and worker freedom in our country. This legislation would enshrine the common-sense principle — already enforced in more than half of U.S. states — that no worker should be compelled to join or pay dues to a union just to get or keep a job.

“In an age of legislative overreach, this is one of the shortest bills ever introduced. The National Right to Work Act does not add a single word to federal law. It simply removes language in depression-era federal law that gives union officials the power to extract dues from non-union workers as a condition of employment.”

The bill introduced by Senator Paul and Congressman Wilson is part of a two-pronged strategy which consists of building support in Washington for the National Right to Work Act, while at the same time mobilizing opponents of forced unionism to pass their own state Right to Work laws.

Right to Work states have seen increased job growth compared to forced-unionism states, and workers in Right to Work states earn more in real income when cost of living is taken into account.

“As the national economy begins to recover from the COVID-19 crisis,” said Mr. Mix, “Right to Work represents a simple, pro-growth policy that also enjoys overwhelming public support.”

Mr. Mix concluded:

“In the 117th Congress, every politician in Washington, D.C., faces a simple decision: Will you side with the union bosses in their attempts to force more workers into the shackles of forced unionism, or will you stand up for the rights of workers across America?

“The National Right to Work Act lets workers choose for themselves, while providing significant economic benefits for workers. The National Right to Work Committee is mobilizing its over two million members to call on their Senators and Representatives to make the right decision: Reject Big Labor’s power grabs, and support the National Right to Work Act.”

Mark Mix

The National Right to Work Committee, established in 1955, is a non-profit, nonpartisan, single-purpose citizen’ organization dedicated to the principle that all Americans must have the right to join a union if they choose to, but none should ever be forced to affiliate with a union in order to get or keep a job.