Contact: Beth Turnbull, 412-562-2442, bturnbull@usw.org
USW Applauds Reintroduction of PRO Act in U.S. Senate, House
(Pittsburgh) – The United Steelworkers union (USW) today joined lawmakers from both houses of Congress to call for the passage of the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.
“Too many corporations brazenly trample workers’ rights and get away with it because current penalties are too weak to provide an effective deterrent,” said USW International President Tom Conway. “It is crucial that our leaders in Washington work together to pass the PRO Act so there can finally be real accountability.”
USW members joined U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) as the pro-worker coalition announced the reintroduction of the PRO Act in the House and Senate.
Conway noted that 71 percent of Americans approve of unions, according to a 2022 Gallup poll.
“It’s clear that more and more Americans want unions in their workplaces,” he said. “Passing the PRO Act will provide a much-needed corrective to the assault on workers’ power, ensure workers have a voice on the job, and strengthen their capacity to negotiate for the fair pay and safe working conditions everyone deserves.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.