IATSE Outlines Its Legislative Agenda For New Congress: “Labor Unions Are Under Assault”
deadline.comIATSE is calling on Congress to pass a wide range of legislation to protect its members and the rights of working men and women across the country.
Known as its Federal Issue Agenda, the wishlist faces an uphill battle with Republicans now controlling the House of Representatives.
Calling for the elimination of so-called “right-to-work laws” – which in 28 states make it harder for workers to form unions and collectively bargain – IATSE is urging Congress to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act and to increase funding for the National Labor Relations Board. “Labor unions are under assault,” the union says, “with policies across the country undermining workers’ collective bargaining rights and stripping union workers of the wages, benefits, and retirement security they deserve.
We must strengthen the federal laws that protect workers’ right to organize a union and bargain for higher wages and better benefits.” The union also wants Congress to make health care a basic right of all Americans. “Our longstanding goal for achieving this is to expeditiously move toward a single-payer system that provides universal coverage, without diminishing the hard-fought benefits union members have won for themselves and all working people.” IATSE also seeks federal legislation to protect voting rights. “The right to vote is fundamental for working people,” the union says. “It is how we express our voice as citizens and the ultimate defense against the power of wealth and privilege.
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