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Vitter Introduces Bill to Punish Union Violence

Press Release

Date: July 1, 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Labor Unions

U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) introduced the Freedom from Union Violence Act (FUVA), which would make any violence committed as a part of labor union organizing a federal crime. Current law imposes criminal penalties for acts of robbery or extortion affecting interstate commerce, but a loophole makes an exception for union violence.

"Over the last four decades, union officials have gotten away with thousands of acts of violence and extortion -- all because of a legal loophole. And all too often, the targets of this violence -- hardworking men and women -- are the very people unions claim to represent," Vitter said. "We need to stand up for the workers who would rather work than follow the orders of their union leaders."

FUVA would remove the loophole in the Hobbs Act and impose the maximum fine of up to $250,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 20 years for anyone who commits crimes such as robbery, extortion, or an act of physical violence to any person or property during a labor dispute.


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