Joined by Local Labor Leaders, Magaziner Calls for Passage of the PRO Act to Strengthen Unions and Rebuild the Middle Class
Joined by Local Labor Leaders, Magaziner Calls for Passage of the PRO Act to Strengthen Unions and Rebuild the Middle Class
Magaziner spoke in front of a local Starbucks to highlight the company’s recent history of anti-union practices
Warwick, R.I. – Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) joined Rhode Island labor leaders and a former Starbucks employees to call for the immediate passage of the PRO Act, a comprehensive proposal to protect the rights of workers, which will rebuild the middle class, improve the lives of workers and their families, and create an economy where everyone can succeed.
Magaziner was joined at the press conference by George Nee and Patrick Crowley from the RI AFL-CIO, as well as former Starbucks employee Cassie Burke, who reiterated Magaziner’s call to pass the PRO Act and highlighted Starbucks’ recent history of illegal union-busting actions.
“The right to form a union is one of the most fundamental rights afforded to all workers,” said Rep. Magaziner. “History has proven that when workers band together to collectively bargain, they secure higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. As unions have come under attack from wealthy special interests, big multinational corporations, and their well-funded lobbyists, all workers – including non-union workers – have paid the price. That’s why I’m fighting so hard to pass the bipartisan PRO Act in Congress.”
In the 1950’s, approximately 33% of American workers were part of a union. In the face of increased union-busting tactics over the past 50 years, the rate of union membership has declined to 10.1% of all workers.
At the same time, the average wages of middle and lower income earners have remained stagnant, while corporate profits have grown. From 1973 to 2013, hourly compensation of a typical worker rose just 9% while productivity increased 74%. Between 1979 and 2013, the median hourly wages of middle-wage workers rose just 6% — and low wage workers fell by 5%. During the same time period, hourly wages of high-wage workers rose 41%.
“If we want a better country, we should have a stronger labor movement. Unions are the mechanism to make sure that workers are treated fairly on the job, have good health and safety protections, rising incomes, good benefits, and retirement security,” said George Nee, AFL-CIO President. “We have to create a level playing field. If we do that, unions will grow and we will have a better country.”
“When unions have a level playing field, we will fight for the working class, raise peoples’ wages, bring them up into the middle class, and make sure that the rights enshrined in the United States Constitution don’t just stop at the factory gate,” said Patrick Crowley, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer. “It’s the unions that fight for that, which is why I’m so proud to stand with Congressman Magaziner to advocate for the PRO Act, because we’ve got to get this law passed.”
"To me unionization was always an act of self-defense... you can see plain as day how Starbucks was treating union workers, you know you could be treated the same way in an instant, if they feel it is profitable, said Cassandra Burke, a former Starbucks organizer and employee. "Starbucks’ pushback against unionization highlights the need for increased labor protections. The PRO Act will protect our right to form and join unions. The PRO Act would make it harder for companies to interfere in workers’ union elections. And give us better tools to hold companies like Starbucks accountable when they violate labor laws."
The PRO Act will empower workers to organize by preventing retaliation against those exercising their right to join a union, allowing workers to override so-called “Right to Work” laws that prevent unions from collecting dues from workers they represent, and establishing a private right of action for workers whose rights have been violated. The PRO Act will also establish safeguards to ensure that workers can hold free, fair, and safe union elections, prevent employers from interfering in elections, and require employers to inform workers of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.
Earlier this month, a New York judge ruled that Starbucks had violated federal labor law “hundreds of times” during the course of a unionization drive in Buffalo. According to the National Labor Relations Board, 512 unfair labor practice charges have been filed against Starbucks over the last four years.
Last month, Rep. Magaziner signed on as an original sponsor of the PRO Act along with lead sponsor Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03).
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