A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT H.R. 2474: PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE (PRO) ACT

ND AFL-CIO 60th Convention
A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT H.R. 2474:  PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE (PRO) ACT

WHEREAS:    There is an imbalance of power in our economy, where wealthy CEO’s and their corporations reap record profits and bonuses while the working people who create those profits fall further behind; and

WHEREAS:     When workers join a union or organize a new one, they are demonstrating the power of collective action as a countervailing force for the benefit of their interests as working people, and

WHEREAS:     Workers are organizing, mobilizing, protesting and striking at levels of intensity not seen in our labor movement for decades, and

WHEREAS:     Current labor law gives employers too much power to impede workers trying to organize with their co-workers; and

WHEREAS:     House Resolution 2474: Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act will remove many of these barriers to organizing, and make it easier for workers to join together in unions and negotiate a first contract; and

WHEREAS:     The PRO Act will increase penalties and speed up remedies when     employers interfere with workers’ rights; and

WHEREAS:     The PRO Act will streamline the NLRB election process, increasing the     election     speed and decreasing company interference by prohibiting mandatory anti-    union company meetings; and

WHEREAS:     The PRO Act will protect strike and protest activity that gives workers the     economic leverage by allowing secondary boycotts and prohibiting     companies from hiring permanent replacement workers during strikes; and     

WHEREAS:     The PRO Act will narrow the definition of independent contractors and     supervisors to eliminate employee misclassifications, a common tactic     used by     many employers to avoid NLRA protections, such as the right to     organize; and

WHEREAS:     The PRO Act will define a process for reaching a first contract, including      mediation and binding arbitration, and a fair-share clause, even in so-called     “Right-to-Work” jurisdictions; and therefore be it

RESOLVED:    The North Dakota AFL-CIO will publicly extend our support for H.R. 2474: Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, educate our affiliate members, leadership and general public on the importance of this act, and heartily advocate for the passage of the act in all relevant political arenas.