House Passes Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the H.R. 842, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act on March 9 with a 225-206 vote. This historic legislation that would help level the playing field and provide workers the opportunity to freely exercise their right to organize a union. 

The PRO Act would strengthen workers’ rights to strike for better wages and working conditions, strengthen safeguards to ensure that workers can hold fair union elections and allow the National Labor Relations Board to fine supervisors who violate workers’ rights.

In addition, the legislation clarifies the definition of independent contractor and supervisor to help prevent the misclassification of workers. Misclassification, which is far too common in construction and other industries, prevents workers from exercising their rights, getting the pay and benefits they deserve, and deprives communities of much-needed revenue through tax evasion.

In his letter to the House of Representatives, BAC President Tim Driscoll wrote:

“BAC is proud of the relationship that we share with our signatory employers across the United States to provide vital building and construction services to the communities we live in. However, our members, and just as importantly the contractors that hire them, are under assault by unscrupulous corporations and employers that abuse and deny their workers from having a meaningful voice in the workplace. The PRO Act would help address these abuses and provide workers a fair shot at forming a union of their choice to bargain for better wages, benefits and conditions in the workplace.”