Washington, Feb. 27—Associated Builders and Contractors today released the following statement ahead of congressional Democrats’ reintroduction of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which is set for Feb. 28. Among its many harmful provisions, the PRO Act would violate workers’ free choice and privacy rights, force unions on employees who have voted against such representation, cost millions of American jobs and threaten vital supply chains.
“The PRO Act is nothing more than an attempt to strip workers of their privacy, freedom and choice,” said Kristen Swearingen, ABC vice president of legislative & political affairs. “Congress must reject this legislation and protect the rights of workers and employers across the country. Democrats in Congress are attempting to increase union membership at the expense of employees’ rights to privacy, employers’ constitutional right to free speech and opportunities for small businesses.
“Reintroduction of the PRO Act means some lawmakers are catering to union demands for legislation that clearly threatens the livelihoods of small business owners, their employees and independent contractors,” said Swearingen. “This is an open attack on the franchise and self-employment business models that have fueled innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation.”
The PRO Act’s harmful provisions would have a devastating impact on the U.S. construction industry and cause significant harm to the nation’s economy. Further, the bill’s provisions would produce significant economic costs for the nation’s 27 right-to-work states, in an effort to increase union power at the expense of worker freedoms and small businesses.
ABC and the ABC-led Coalition for a Democratic Workplace are leading the fight against the PRO Act, engaging with key audiences to stop this attempt to implement radical labor policies. Visit freeenterprisealliance.org/proact to learn more and take action.
About ABC
Associated Builders and Contractors is a national construction industry trade association established in 1950 that represents more than 22,000 members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 68 chapters help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. Visit us at abc.org.
