National Right to Work Act

*Updated on 3/20/23*

Bill name: National Right to Work Act
Bill sponsors:   S. 532, sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), H.R. 1200, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

Summary:  The National Right to Work Act would grant private sector workers the ability to opt-out of a union and prohibit unions from getting workers fired for not paying them. Right to work, under this bill, would apply to workers covered by both the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Railway Labor Act (RLA).

Background: Currently, 27 states have adopted Right to Work laws. However, those laws apply only to workers under the NLRA and only in those states. The RLA- which governs railroad and airline employees- prohibits Right to Work even when adopted at the state level. The National Right to Work Act would allow all private sector workers to opt out of a union.

Separately, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act introduced by Congressional Democrats would ban Right to Work laws entirely.

“We must continue to work towards promoting job creation and ending automatic unionism for the American people. 80% of people in our country support putting an end to dues as a condition of employment.”

–Rep. Joe Wilson

Bill Status: The Senate and House versions of the bill have been referred to the Senate, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and House Education and Labor Committee, respectively. The National Right to Work Act is introduced in every Congress though the last attempt at floor consideration-during the 104th Congress- was halted by a failed cloture vote in the Senate.

Click here to download the backgrounder. 

Also related: Union Member Protection Act

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Resources

VIDEO: “Dr. Rand Paul Re-Introduces the National Right to Work Act”
February 23, 21
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYxai0Tt7XY

PRESS RELEASE: “Dr. Rand Paul Reintroduces National Right to work Act”
February 24, 21
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/dr-rand-paul-reintroduces-national-right-work-act

PRESS RELEASE: “Congressman Wilson Reintroduces National Right to Work Legislation”
February 24, 2021
https://joewilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-wilson-reintroduces-right-to-work-legislation