Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 842.

This bill would be the most drastic change to labor law this country has seen in the past 80 years. It would severely upend labor laws and change long-established precedents at the behest of Democrats and their Big Labor donors and at the expense of hardworking Americans.

This bill would take away the flexibility of workers to choose their own work hours, place onerous burdens on small business, restrict the ability of employers to seek labor relations advice, and violate workers' privacy by giving labor organizations access to their contact information without consent.

This bill would also undermine the ability of States to choose their own labor laws by striking down the right-to-work laws of 27 States.

As a member of the Wisconsin Senate, I authored the right-to-work bill that became law. I can attest firsthand to what the consequences would be if these laws were struck down.

Striking down State right-to-work laws would force millions of workers to pay dues to labor unions without any say about how their money was spent.

I offered an amendment to this bill that would prevent union dues from being used for political purposes. It is yet to be seen whether Democrats will support union bosses or hardworking Americans.

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Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, this amendment that I authored would prohibit labor organizations from using union dues and fees collected from workers for non-collective bargaining purposes without the written consent of the employee. No employee should be forced to subsidize political positions they disagree with at the cost of employment.

According to the Center for Union Facts, 43 percent of union households voted Republican, yet 86 percent of the union political support went to Democrat candidates in 2016. Clearly, there is a strong difference of opinion between union bosses and union members on the best pathway forward, but union bosses continue to spend their members' money with little accountability.

Workers across Wisconsin and this country pay annual union dues to labor organizations in exchange for representation, not to line the pockets of the politicians. This amendment would stop unions from sending workers' hard-earned money into a black hole and ensure that the voices of workers are being heard.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment. Employees nationwide deserve to have a say in how their money is spent.

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