For Immediate Release: June 5, 2019
Contact on behalf of IUPAT: John Doherty (617) 592-2230 or jdoherty@iupat.org
HANOVER, MD — Statement by Ken Rigmaiden, general president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, on Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019, which strengthens workers’ legal right to organize and hold elections and restricts employers’ efforts to suppress organizing efforts:
“The ‘Protecting the Right to Organize Act’ draws a much-needed line in the sand for employers who try, often with multimillion dollar campaigns, to thwart legal organizing efforts of Americans struggling to gain a stronger voice in the workplace. The PRO Act strengthens workers’ rights to conduct organizing campaigns, hold fair elections and get to the bargaining table quickly. If enacted, workers would be able to engage in their lawful right to organize without intimidation or fear of unlawful retaliation. Employers would be prohibited from forcing workers to attend meetings to persuade them against joining the union, could not hire permanent replacements for striking workers and could not delay bargaining indefinitely. These tactics have been used by employers to stymie union representation and scare workers, making this legislation essential to level the playing field and create a fair environment for workers to exercise their legal right to unionize.”
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THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES (IUPAT)
Represents a growing community of over 120,000 active and retired craftspeople in the United States and Canada. The IUPAT membership extends far beyond the workplace.
Recognized as one of the most active unions in the labor movement, IUPAT members help shape their communities in many ways: through an abiding commitment to service, by fighting passionately for workers’ rights that benefit all working families, and through effective worker education and mobilization.
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