The AFL-CIO on Thursday called on the Senate to abolish the obstruction if it prevents Democrats from moving forward with a pro-worker agenda.
“For decades, workers paid the price of corporate governance in the first place,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “Repeatedly, the Senate’s mysterious rules have been used to prevent workers from claiming the basic rights and dignities that we have achieved.
The labor group’s executive board wrote in a statement that the PRO Law passed by the House gives Senate Republicans a chance to show whether they are ready to work for workers. But, they noted, the obstruction can hinder the approval of a “Workers’ Agenda First”.
“But there is simply no time for delays or paralysis. And if a minority in the Senate seeks to hide behind the obstruction – obstruct, interpose that Jim Crow artifact between the American people and the change we are voting for – the path to follow for the Senate leadership must be clear, ”the council wrote.
The PRO-Act, a bill that aims to strengthen workers’ rights to unionize, is the main legislative priority for labor groups. He passed the House this week in a majority party vote.
The bill would toughen penalties for employers who violated workers’ rights, while strengthening protections for employees against retaliation. It would also change the union electoral process, reinforce collective bargaining agreements, and seek laws on the right to work.
The AFL-CIO board also asked the Senate to work with President biden
Joe BidenManchin cementes key vote status in the Senate 50-50 The Memorandum: How the year COVID overthrew politics Post-pandemic plans for lawmakers: Chuck E. Cheese, visiting friends, hugging grandchildren MORE and the House to enact legislation for American workers.
“But if this proves impossible under the current Senate rules, we call for rapid and necessary changes to these rules so that the will of the people of the United States expressed in the 2020 elections can be transformed in the progress of our country and our people are in desperate need. ”Wrote the council.
The AFL-CIO sent a letter to the Senate in 2012 calling for reforms. The council said the obstruction has since blocked reform of labor legislation, equal pay for women and other laws.
“[W]we know that the American bailout plan is only law because senators used a loophole to overcome the obstacle of a threat of obstruction, ”wrote the council, adding that the loophole was“ small ”because Congress was unable to raise the minimum wage in the package.
The American Rescue Plan – Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package – includes funding for direct payments, vaccine distribution efforts, reopening schools, increased unemployment benefits, an expansion of child tax credit and an expansion of ObamaCare, among other provisions.
Biden signed into law on Thursday, in what was seen as his first legislative victory under his presidency. The president, before taking office, promised to act quickly to combat the medical and economic effects of the pandemic after hundreds of thousands of Americans died of the disease and millions still remain unemployed.
Biden was endorsed by several major workers ‘unions during his 2020 campaign and promised to defend workers’ rights. However, so far he has signaled that he is against changing the rules around legislative obstruction.
Press Secretary of the White House Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiOn The Money: House approves COVID-19 relief bill in party vote | Biden to sign Friday | Senate confirms that Fudge will lead HUD Biden under pressure to get 400 payments quickly. White House seeks solution to the border race MORE reiterated to reporters on Monday that he opposes any change to the Senate rule.