Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) voted to approve H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2019, to provide new protections for workers and hold employers who violate workers' rights accountable. The bill passed 224 to 194.

“Unions have been under attack by wealthy corporate interests for decades because they empower workers to negotiate better pay and fair treatment from a position of strength,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “The erosion of unions has hurt all working people in our economy—not just union members. I am proud to be an cosponsor of the PRO Act, which will strengthen collective bargaining rights and better support union members seeking economic opportunity and prosperity. ”

The PRO Act protects the basic right to join a union by establishing enforceable penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights, expanding collective bargaining rights, closing loopholes that corporations use to exploit workers, and strengthening workers’ access to fair union elections.

Last month, Pingree joined 75 Members of Congress led by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) in urging House leadership to hold a floor vote on the PRO Act, which has 218 cosponsors. Pingree and her colleagues wrote in their letter to leadership:

“We believe the time is now for the House to follow through on its commitment to advance major legislation to empower our nation’s workers. For decades, American workers have endured attacks on their wages and workplace rights…The PROAct is bold, comprehensive legislation to strengthen unions and the American workforce… We can and should pass it now.”

The PRO Act, was introduced by Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03).

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