U.S. Senators Vote on Right to Work Amendment to Union Boss Bill

Senator Rand Paul offered an amendment to strike the entire “PRO Act” and replace it with the National Right to Work Act

Washington, D.C. (June 21, 2023) – Today, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) voted on amendments to the so-called “PRO Act” (S. 567), a bill that expands union officials’ coercive power over workers and repeals every state Right to Work law in the country.

The Right to Work laws in effect in 26 states make union dues voluntary, such that no worker can be fired for refusing to give money to a labor union.

The HELP Committee voted on amendments to the PRO Act, including one introduced by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), which proposed to strike the entire bill and replace it with the National Right to Work Act.

The National Right to Work Act (S. 532/H.R. 1200) was introduced in February by Senator Paul, and would extend Right to Work protections to workers in all 50 states, including those not covered by state-level Right to Work laws.

In support of the amendment, Senator Paul said:

“The government itself doesn’t have the right to force American citizens to associate with and give money to any private organization, yet it gives union bosses that power over millions of American workers. 

“If we want to put power back in the hands of American workers and encourage job growth across the country, my amendment offers an alternative to the anti-worker PRO Act and includes right-to-work protections to Americans in all 50 states.”

National Right to Work Committee President Mark Mix praised the Paul amendment:

“The so-called ‘PRO Act’ is the worst labor policy bill in modern memory. It is filled with Big Labor power grabs that make it easier for union bosses to take power over workers who don’t want them, and more difficult for workers to remove them. Worse, it abolishes all state Right to Work laws, subjecting millions of workers to forced union dues.

I applaud Ranking Member Cassidy for recognizing the evils of the PRO Act, and Senator Paul for offering an amendment to do away with it altogether in favor of the National Right to Work Act, a bill that actually protects workers.

The Senators who voted against this amendment, particularly Senators Kaine and Baldwin, who represent Right to Work states, will have to answer to their voters as to why they voted to deny workers the Right to Work protections that the vast majority of Americans believe everyone should enjoy.”

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The National Right to Work Committee, established in 1955, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, single-purpose citizens’ 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.  Its web address is NRTWC.org.