On Friday, March 23, Congressman Rob Andrews (D-1) and Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) announced their introduction of federal legislation to restore the freedom to organize and bargain collectively millions of workers stripped of these rights due to several recent NLRB decisions. Representatives George Miller (D-CA) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) joined them in introducing this bill.

 

 

Last year, the NLRB issued a trio of decisions, often referred to collectively as the “Kentucky River” decisions, which eviscerated the meanings of “employee” and “supervisor” under the NLRA.  The Kentucky River decisions dramatically expanded the definition of supervisor far beyond the limits that the framers of the Act intended and far beyond the limits of common sense.  In so doing, it stripped an estimated 8 million workers – particularly skilled and professional employees – of the freedom to organize.

 

 

“The Kentucky River decisions are not an anomaly for the current National Labor Relations Board,” Andrews said.  “In the last five years, the Board has repeatedly ruled to deny or restrict the fundamental rights of entire categories of workers.  These include 45,000 disabled workers who lost their right to organize; 51,000 teaching and research assistants who lost their right to organize; and 2 million temporary workers who have had their right to organize severely curtailed.  This hurts workers’ ability to earn decent wages and receive decent benefits. With the introduction of the RESPECT Act, we intend to restore those important rights.”

 

 

The RESPECT Act does nothing more than clarify the law to ensure it is not misinterpreted or undermined on a fundamental question of coverage.  All workers, including skilled and professional workers, have the right to organize.  

 

 

“I urge all of my colleagues to stand with me as we fight to return these fundamental protections to millions workers who deserve the chance to win livable wages, fair benefits, decent working conditions, and a brighter future for their families,” said Andrews.

 

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO thanks Congressman Andrews and his colleagues for their leadership on this issue and for their continued support of America's working families.