Workers Need the PRO Act

Leslie is joined by Maria Somma, Organizing Director for the United Steelworkers (USW). The pair explores why workers still need the PRO Act. This includes white collar workers, which Maria shares multiple examples of with the audience. Workers in the South are also eager to exercise their rights, though this is drawing backlash from anti-worker politicians in states like Georgia and Alabama. The Biden administration has done important work to correct course at the NLRB, and there are pro-worker provisions in recent investments, which are helping smooth the way for workers to have a voice on the job.  This includes extensive new requirements for infrastructure projects to be “made in America” as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Known as the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA), this section of the law promises to stimulate American manufacturing and create jobs for American workers by ensuring that a substantial portion of BIL funding is used to purchase U.S.-made products and materials. However, workers still face an uphill battle when it comes to forming unions.  The solution is to finally pass comprehensive legislation that shores up loopholes in our laws and attaches real, immediate penalties to corporations that violate workers’ rights.  Leslie and Maria share the legislative solution to these issues, which is the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act). They detail what the law would do, which is: - Establish stronger and swifter remedies to stop employers from breaking the law - Make companies recognize contractors as part of the collective bargaining process so they can no longer continue to whittle down Union membership by subcontracting - Force an employer to reach a first contract in a timely manner with a newly organized group of workers. (No more dragging out first contracts) - Reverse so-called 'Right to Work,' regardless of state laws  - Prohibit employers from forcing employees to attend anti-union meetings Recent polls show that support for unions is at a fifty-year high, and having Joe Biden, the only sitting President to walk a picket line, in office has helped workers a great deal.  But, it’s time for the law to catch up.  Maria Somma has been an organizer for her entire career, first as a community organizer, and then as a labor organizer.  She started with the Steelworkers in 2001 as a healthcare workers organizer, and became Organizing Director in 2015. The website for the USW is www.USW.org. Their handle on X and Instagram is @steelworkers. Like them on Facebook by visiting www.Facebook.com/Steelworkers.