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You’ve probably seen us tweet a bunch about the PRO Act lately!
Some of you are probably wondering “what even is the PRO Act? Why does DSA care so much?”
Good questions! We’re here to explain!
Some of you are probably wondering “what even is the PRO Act? Why does DSA care so much?”
Good questions! We’re here to explain!
We have to defeat the capitalists who make billions by leaving millions of people suffering.
We do not have billions of dollars.
But we do have millions of people.
Workers are agitating for democracy in the workplace.
We need to make it easier for them to organize.
We do not have billions of dollars.
But we do have millions of people.
Workers are agitating for democracy in the workplace.
We need to make it easier for them to organize.
Only by building collective power can we beat the bosses, and rebuild our economy and ecosystem.
But how?
The same way ordinary workers and communities beat them to win the original New Deal: mass, militant labor organizing that fueled an explosion in unions and strikes
But how?
The same way ordinary workers and communities beat them to win the original New Deal: mass, militant labor organizing that fueled an explosion in unions and strikes
That's where the PRO Act comes in.
Getting it passed is DSA’s highest national priority.
Why? It would strengthen unions, the power of the working class to organize on the job, and our collective capacity to win a just transition to a green economy for all.
Getting it passed is DSA’s highest national priority.
Why? It would strengthen unions, the power of the working class to organize on the job, and our collective capacity to win a just transition to a green economy for all.
The legislation is a wide-reaching overhaul of labor laws that would make it easier for workers to form new unions, including by expanding collective bargaining rights to independent contractors.
It’s a long bill, though. Let’s get to some highlights:
It’s a long bill, though. Let’s get to some highlights:
The PRO Act would override “Right to Work” laws.
"Right to Work" laws have nothing to do with your right to work. They weaken unions by making it illegal for unions to bargain for a closed shop where all workers pay dues. They take power from the workers and give it to bosses.
"Right to Work" laws have nothing to do with your right to work. They weaken unions by making it illegal for unions to bargain for a closed shop where all workers pay dues. They take power from the workers and give it to bosses.
Martin Luther King Jr. said that "We must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as ‘right to work.’
They rob us of our civil rights and job rights.
They are supported by Southern segregationists who are trying to keep us from achieving our civil rights."
They rob us of our civil rights and job rights.
They are supported by Southern segregationists who are trying to keep us from achieving our civil rights."
The PRO Act legalizes secondary strikes.
Legalizing secondary strikes will allow workers to unify their demands, using waves of strikes across sectors and industries to bring the economy to a halt and force capitalists to bargain on our terms.
Legalizing secondary strikes will allow workers to unify their demands, using waves of strikes across sectors and industries to bring the economy to a halt and force capitalists to bargain on our terms.
The PRO Act would do away with some of the bosses’ most potent union busting tactics.
If the PRO Act had been law, it could've stopped Amazon union busting in Alabama. The union’s proposed bargaining unit would have likely been accepted.
If the PRO Act had been law, it could've stopped Amazon union busting in Alabama. The union’s proposed bargaining unit would have likely been accepted.
Under the current law, employers are allowed to hold “captive audience” meetings in which they mandate their workers to sit through anti-union propaganda sessions.
It’ll make it easier for Amazon workers to organize across the country.
It’ll make it easier for Amazon workers to organize across the country.
The PRO Act gives bosses a reason to be afraid to violate labor law.
Under the current NLRA, bosses aren't scared violate the law — something we see them do over and over again.
The PRO Act would make each unfair labor practice punishable by $10,000.
Per day.
Under the current NLRA, bosses aren't scared violate the law — something we see them do over and over again.
The PRO Act would make each unfair labor practice punishable by $10,000.
Per day.
Right to Work laws destroy our environment:
They are prevalent in almost every state with a large fossil-fuel industry. As a direct result, just around 10% of workers in the fossil-fuel industry are in a labor union.
They are prevalent in almost every state with a large fossil-fuel industry. As a direct result, just around 10% of workers in the fossil-fuel industry are in a labor union.
Green jobs also include low-carbon work in the care economy: nursing, teaching, child care, and home care for the elderly and disabled.
The care economy has expanded rapidly in recent decades. In fact, it is the largest sector of US employment.
The care economy has expanded rapidly in recent decades. In fact, it is the largest sector of US employment.
The PRO Act Makes a Green New Deal possible:
Bosses know that a reinvigorated labor movement can reshape the economy and win a Green New Deal, the same way labor won the original New Deal.
They've spent the last 90 years weakening labor laws.
It's our turn to fight back.
Bosses know that a reinvigorated labor movement can reshape the economy and win a Green New Deal, the same way labor won the original New Deal.
They've spent the last 90 years weakening labor laws.
It's our turn to fight back.
The growth of the care economy means that our society depends on, and takes advantage of, low-wage workers to make life possible.
Only 8% of workers across health care, social assistance, and education are in unions.
The PRO Act would change that.
Only 8% of workers across health care, social assistance, and education are in unions.
The PRO Act would change that.
The PRO Act Reduces Inequality
Essential workers, who keep society running, are less likely to be unionized.
Only 1.9% of agricultural workers are unionized.
Only 4.2% of food services.
Only 6.3% of all private sector workers belong to a union.
Essential workers, who keep society running, are less likely to be unionized.
Only 1.9% of agricultural workers are unionized.
Only 4.2% of food services.
Only 6.3% of all private sector workers belong to a union.
The PRO Act would also help close the racial wealth gap.
Unionizing these sectors would empower workers who are heavily exploited due to their citizenship status.
69% of undocumented immigrant workers hold jobs that are deemed essential.
Unionizing these sectors would empower workers who are heavily exploited due to their citizenship status.
69% of undocumented immigrant workers hold jobs that are deemed essential.
There are multiple avenues to passing the PRO Act through the senate, whether through reconciliation or abolishing the filibuster. But we're not there yet.
It's already passed in the House. We need 50 Senators to sign on to move it forward.
That's where DSA comes in.
It's already passed in the House. We need 50 Senators to sign on to move it forward.
That's where DSA comes in.
DSA members have already made over 600,000 phone calls and 200,000 texts to voters all over the country.
We’ve already got two senators - Angus King and Joe Manchin - to flip their votes. We’ve got three left: Mark Warner (VA), Mark Kelly (AZ) and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ).
We’ve already got two senators - Angus King and Joe Manchin - to flip their votes. We’ve got three left: Mark Warner (VA), Mark Kelly (AZ) and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ).
We're not doing it alone, either.
DSA is part of a coalition of unions and organizations across the country. You can learn more about that tonight! https://twitter.com/AFLCIO/status/1386755243539668993
DSA is part of a coalition of unions and organizations across the country. You can learn more about that tonight! https://twitter.com/AFLCIO/status/1386755243539668993
This Saturday is May Day.
Every May Day we come together to celebrate the radicals who've come before us, and stand in solidarity with workers across the globe.
This May Day, DSA members are mobilizing to get the PRO Act to get passed. We need you to join us.
Every May Day we come together to celebrate the radicals who've come before us, and stand in solidarity with workers across the globe.
This May Day, DSA members are mobilizing to get the PRO Act to get passed. We need you to join us.
If you’re in LA, meet us at Los Angeles State Historic Park at 10AM.
We'll say it loud and say it proud:
Up, up, up with the workers.
Down, down, down with the bosses.
Pass, pass, pass the PRO Act.
See you there.
https://dsa-la.org/event/mayday2021/
We'll say it loud and say it proud:
Up, up, up with the workers.
Down, down, down with the bosses.
Pass, pass, pass the PRO Act.
See you there.
https://dsa-la.org/event/mayday2021/
