Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers in reintroducing the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. The legislation would protect the right of West Virginian and American workers to come together and bargain for higher wages, better benefits and safer workplaces.

“I’m proud to join this bipartisan, bicameral effort to ensure workers across West Virginia and the United States are empowered to come together and negotiate for higher wages, better benefits and safer workplaces,” said Senator Manchin. “Nearly half of new unions fail to reach a contract within their first year because their employers won’t even come to the table. Unions are essential for improving the livelihoods of workers and families, and I support the commonsense reforms in the PRO Act that will level the playing field and protect workers. I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to improve this bill and move it through the legislative process.”

The PRO Act protects the basic right to join a union by:

• Holding employers accountable for facilitating initial collective bargaining agreements and for violating workers’ rights by authorizing meaningful penalties.
• Empowering workers to exercise their right to organize by strengthening support for workers who suffer retaliation for exercising their rights.
• Securing free, fair, and safe union elections by preventing employers from interfering in union elections and prohibiting captive audience meetings.