Right to Work Committee Praises Rep. Perry’s Introduction of Bill to Combat Union Violence

Committee President: Union Violence is an Ongoing Problem

Washington, D.C. (September 8, 2025) – The National Right to Work Committee commended Pennsylvania Congressman Scott Perry (R-PA-10) on his recent introduction of the Freedom from Union Violence Act (H.R. 5054), which closes legal loopholes that allow union officials to avoid being prosecuted under anti-extortion laws.

Under the Supreme Court’s decision in the 1973 United States v. Enmons case, union officials can avoid prosecution under the Hobbs anti-extortion act as long as they use violence in pursuit of “legitimate union organizing objectives.”

Congressman Perry’s bill would close the Enmons loophole, and make it clear that the Hobbs Act applies to any American who extorts others for financial gain.

“Union bosses have a long history of using violence and the threat of violence to coerce workers and employers into doing their bidding,” said Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Committee.

“Union bosses feel emboldened in part because they know there is an army of union-funded politicians who will protect them. Congressman Perry’s bill should have unanimous support among members of Congress, but union boss allies want to pretend that this bill, and the entire issue of union violence, do not exist.”

Amid the ongoing strike among Teamsters-represented garbage collectors working for Republic Services in Boston, striking workers have been seen on video attempting to stop replacement workers from doing their jobs, including by stopping their cars in front of Republic garbage trucks in the middle of busy highways.

In a legal complaint, Republic Services reports that striking workers trapped a group of replacement workers inside of vans for up to three hours. As the complaint explains:

“These picketers rocked the rental car and the passenger vans, hit the vehicles with their hands and flashlights, and keyed the rental car along both sides. Local 25 Business Agent Brian J. Hatch used a knife to slash and flatten one tire on each of the first two passenger vans, further disabling their progress. The picketers, some with bullhorns, and at least one with a knife visible to occupants of the van, constantly screamed profanities at the vehicles’ occupants, including threats, racially-charged language, and homophobic slurs…”

“Union violence is not some vestige of the past,” Mix explained. “It continues to this day. At this very moment, officials of prominent unions are using violence and property destruction to achieve their objectives.

“Now is the time for Congress to pass Scott Perry’s bill, override the disastrous Enmons decision, and once again ensure that union bosses are subject to federal prosecution when they perpetrate violence against workers who are just trying to do their jobs.”