FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts on behalf of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Ryan Kekeris, 410-564-5884, rkekeris@iupat.org
IUPAT Immensely Welcomes Reintroduction of the PRO Act and Urges Labor Movement to Seize The Moment
Today the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act was reintroduced in both Chambers of Congress. This bill, if passed, would become the first national labor law reform in nearly a century that would expand the rights of workers. The reintroduction of the bill today represents the first victory of the Pass the PRO Act campaign, which has been spearheaded by IUPAT.
Prior to the reintroduction, our union worked tirelessly to mobilize the labor movement to meet this moment and force the question around this central demand. Our campaign, which launched on November 30th, has since gained the support of 180 unions and 50 combined state labor federations and building trades councils totaling more than 9 million union members.
The rights that our parents and grandparents fought for have been chipped away over time by the same anti-worker forces who will surely oppose this bill. But the labor movement has one against all odds many times throughout history and we can do so again. The PRO Act would reverse decades-long attacks on working people and would strengthen federal protections for workers who are attempting to form a union or bargain for better working conditions.
We want to thank the cosponsors in both the House and the Senate. We also want to make it clear that if you expect IUPAT’s political support, your support of this bill is a necessity. And we demand more than that. Our elected representatives must make the case for the PRO Act publicly to their constituents and do everything in their power to see its passage.
For the passage of the PRO Act, our union intends to fight like Hell to do so, and we welcome all hands on deck with us in this struggle. After nearly 100 years without positive federal labor law reform, we must seize this moment and pass the PRO Act. We intend to organize and we intend to mobilize the millions of workers in this country who have signed on to our campaign to demand that Congress pass this bill.
THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES (IUPAT)
Represents a growing community of over 110,000 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. Visit www.iupat.org to learn more.
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