WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — There’s a new push in Congress to pass a pro-union bill that advocates say will help workers. But it faces opposition from critics who say it will hurt business and the economy.
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) is reintroducing the Right to Organize Act.
“If you want to join a union, you should be able to. You should not suffer unfair labor practices.’ Scott said.
The bill calls for changes to labor laws to make it easier for workers to form unions.
“Businesses will not be able to underpay their workers, will not be able to force them to work in dangerous working conditions, will not be able to squeeze them with benefits,” Scott added.
Opponents say it would limit workers’ freedom and cost businesses dearly. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum, sees several problems with the bill.
“I think it’s going to have a dramatically negative impact on employment growth and wage growth in the United States,” Holtz-Eakin said.
He believes the legislation will force businesses to cut back to offset the new costs.
“Mandatory that someone have benefits does not create the economic resources to pay those benefits,” Holtz-Eakin said.
He also argues that it would undermine right-to-work laws in states that allow employees to opt out of union membership.
“This strikes me as a dramatic power grab and will have real consequences for how our markets work,” Holtz-Eakin said.
Rep. Scott argues that when unions bargain, all workers receive benefits, so they must pay union dues.
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable to pay my share of the cost to get those amenities,” Scott said.
He believes that strengthening trade unions will improve the economy as a whole.
“Because workers who make more money have more money to spend,” Scott said.
The House has passed the bill twice before, but it has so far failed to pass the Senate.