As billionaires and right-wing politicians escalate their attacks on organized labor, progressive lawmakers have reintroduced the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, aiming to restore workers’ rights and level the playing field between employees and their employers. Led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), the bill represents the most significant labor reform in nearly 80 years, designed to strengthen collective bargaining rights and curb the rampant corporate suppression of unions.
The reintroduction of the PRO Act comes at a time of rising public support for unions, growing economic inequality, and an aggressive anti-worker agenda pushed by corporate billionaires like Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s administration. With Republican lawmakers focused on slashing labor protections while handing tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy, labor leaders say this bill is critical to protecting workers from corporate exploitation and restoring their right to organize.
The PRO Act seeks to overhaul outdated labor laws that have allowed companies to undermine unions and silence organizing efforts for decades. The legislation would impose financial penalties on companies that violate labor laws, prohibit mandatory anti-union propaganda meetings, and ensure that striking workers cannot be permanently replaced. It would also make it easier for new unions to secure their first contracts, ensuring that corporations cannot drag out negotiations to weaken organizing efforts.
A major provision of the bill would also override state-level “right to work” laws, which have been used by Republican lawmakers to weaken union membership and bargaining power. Additionally, the bill would extend protections to independent contractors, allowing gig workers—who often face some of the worst labor abuses—to organize and negotiate better pay and conditions.
“For too long, workers have suffered from anti-union attacks and toothless labor laws that have undermined their right to work safely and be paid fairly,” Scott said in a statement. He emphasized that Congress has a responsibility to ensure that every worker has the right to higher wages, better benefits, and a safer workplace—something only strong unions can help secure.
The need for the PRO Act has never been more urgent, as corporate billionaires like Elon Musk and Donald Trump are leading a coordinated effort to dismantle worker protections.
Musk, one of the richest men in the world, has a long track record of opposing unions. Tesla has been repeatedly accused of violating labor laws, firing employees for attempting to organize, and refusing to negotiate contracts with unionized workers. Musk has also openly mocked labor organizers and dismissed union concerns as irrelevant.
Meanwhile, Trump has pushed an aggressive anti-labor agenda since returning to office, including illegally firing National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) member Gwynne Wilcox, which effectively shut down the agency tasked with enforcing labor laws. This move, according to Sanders, leaves millions of workers vulnerable to corporate abuse.
“Supporting the immediate reinstatement of Member Wilcox and the swift passage of the PRO Act would be major steps toward building real worker power,” Sanders said.
In addition to dismantling labor protections, the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have prioritized tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy over policies that would benefit working people. Their agenda includes cuts to healthcare and food assistance programs, all while making it easier for companies to lay off workers and replace them with automation or gig labor.
Despite fierce corporate opposition, the PRO Act has strong backing from the labor movement. Leaders across industries argue that the bill is a long-overdue response to decades of corporate attacks on unions.
“In too many workplaces, in too many industries across the country, big corporations and billionaire CEOs still retaliate against us for organizing,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “They refuse to negotiate our contracts, force us to sit through hours of anti-union propaganda, and engage in illegal union-busting every day.”
Shuler emphasized that the labor movement is ready for a fight. “We know it won’t be easy, but the labor movement never backs down from a righteous fight. And in today’s economy, where our workers’ hard-earned paychecks are covering less of what they need while still facing unsafe conditions and a lack of respect on the job, there’s no fight more righteous than ensuring that every single worker who wants a union has a fair shot to join or form one.”
Other labor leaders have echoed this sentiment, pointing to the widening gap between the ultra-rich and working Americans. Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), called out billionaires for their “anti-union extremism” and their role in deepening economic inequality.
“The PRO Act will loosen billionaires’ grip on our economic future and make clear that their days of using illegal union-busting tactics without consequence are over,” Saunders said.
The bill also has the support of major unions, including the American Federation of Teachers, United Autoworkers, United Steelworkers, and the Service Employees International Union.
While Democrats are largely unified behind the PRO Act, Republicans remain fiercely opposed, siding with corporate lobbyists and billionaires who are working to kill the bill. Many GOP lawmakers have rejected any attempts to strengthen worker protections, instead pushing legislation that favors corporate interests.
The bill has seen some limited bipartisan support. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) has broken with his party to co-sponsor the bill, recognizing its importance in protecting workers from corporate exploitation. However, with Republicans controlling Congress, the bill faces an uphill battle to become law.
Still, the reintroduction of the bill is significant. If Democrats regain control of Congress in 2026, the PRO Act could finally pass, marking the biggest victory for workers in decades.
The stakes for workers across the country are immense. Without the PRO Act, corporations will continue to violate labor laws, fire workers for unionizing, and stall contract negotiations.
For many workers, especially those in low-wage industries and the gig economy, the bill could mean the difference between a living wage and continued exploitation. The rise of automation and artificial intelligence is another looming threat, one that union protections could help mitigate.
Sanders warned that without strong unions, millions of workers could see wage cuts, job losses, and worsening working conditions.
“The only protection that workers will have from massive layoffs,” Sanders said, “is through forming unions, standing up for their rights, and making sure the new technology benefits workers and not just the oligarchs.”
With Trump, Musk, and other billionaires working to dismantle unions, the fight for labor rights has become one of the most urgent political battles of our time. The bill’s reintroduction signals that progressives and labor leaders are not backing down, even in the face of fierce corporate opposition.
If passed, the PRO Act could transform labor rights for generations, reversing decades of corporate-driven attacks on unions and ensuring that American workers finally have the right to organize, bargain, and earn fair wages without fear of retaliation.
Unions Begin With You, join AFL-CIO America’s Union to take action.
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