Padilla Supports Legislation to Boost Workers' Right to Unionize

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Representative Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) in reintroducing the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act, legislation that would support the right to unionize by prohibiting states from banning union security agreements through "right-to-work" laws.

Twenty-seven states have enacted "right-to-work" laws that prevent unions from collecting dues from non-union members who are covered under a union-negotiated contract. These laws make it more difficult for workers to form unions and fight for higher wages and better working conditions in the states that adopt them, resulting in a 5 percent decrease in unionization rates and a decrease in average wages for all full-time workers of 3.1 percent, according to a study by the Economic Policy Institute, or about $11,000 a year, according to a report released by Representative Sherman's office. California is home to over 2.4 million union workers, as of 2021, accounting for 15.9 percent of wage and salary workers in the state.

A similar proposal is included in the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which the lawmakers support and which would protect American workers' right to organize and negotiate for better wages and working conditions.

"Every worker deserves access to the protections offered by unions, and no state should be able to restrict that right," said Senator Padilla. "As momentum builds for workers across the country to unionize, I will keep up the fight to ensure that Congress is protecting workers and improving working conditions for all."

"Republicans and their corporate interest backers have imposed state laws with only one goal: destroy unions and discourage workers from organizing for higher wages, fair benefits, and safer working conditions," said Senator Warren. "At a time when labor unions are growing in both size, popularity, and delivering real wins for workers, Democrats are making clear that we stand in solidarity with workers everywhere, from Starbucks baristas to Google cafeteria workers and everyone in between."

"So called "right-to-work' laws are designed to make it difficult to organize a union," said Congressman Sherman. "This impacts not only workers who want a union -- but general wage levels throughout the state. In an ill-conceived effort to attract business, one state after another has adopted these anti-union laws in a race to the bottom. That is why today I'm proud to partner with Senator Warren to reintroduce the National Right to Unionize Act -- legislation I've introduced in every session of Congress since 2008."

Senator Padilla is a longtime advocate of equal access to employment, fair wages, the right to organize, and improving workplace safety standards. As a California state senator, Padilla introduced legislation, which was subsequently signed into law, to compel hospitals to adopt a workplace violence prevention plan as a part of the hospital's overall injury and illness prevention plan. In the U.S. Senate, he has been a strong proponent of the $15 minimum wage and cosponsored the Raise the Wage Act of 2021 to increase the federal minimum wage. He is also a proud cosponsor of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2021. Last month, the Senator held an event with Representative Judy Chu in Los Angeles along with union representatives and workers to advocate for federal workplace heat stress protections.

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