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Urging the United States Senate to pass Senate Bill 1306, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019 (also known as the "PRO Act"), and affirming the right of workers to form unions and organize for higher wages, family-sustaining benefits, as well as safety, dignity, and respect at their workplace.
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WHEREAS, Unions are the backbone of the working class. They are crucial for ensuring that all jobs are good jobs-ones that guarantee a living wage; a safe, dignified workplace; meaningful benefits; and protection from discrimination and unfair dismissal; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia City Council, the Pennsylvania State Legislature, and the United States Congress all must act to balance the scales between workers and employers. Workers must not be treated as costs to contain; rather, they must be recognized as the foundation of each and every workplace in the City of Philadelphia and the country; and
WHEREAS, Every person-regardless of citizenship status or type of work-deserves the freedom to form a union. Workers must be provided legal protections so that they may voice concerns about working conditions and organize without fear of retaliation; and
WHEREAS, Research shows that unionized workers can set industry standards for wages and benefits that provide a floor for all workers, regardless of whether they are formally part of a union. Even more, union members earn on average 11.2 percent more in wages than their non-union peers; and
WHEREAS, Unions have been shown to be especially integral to lifting the wages of workers of color. Unionized Black workers are paid 13.7 percent more than their non-union peers, and unionized Latinx workers are paid 20.1 percent more than their non-union peers; and
WHEREAS, As such, unions can be a driver for directly addressing racial disparities in pay. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, unions and collective bargaining have reduced the Black-White wage gap and should continue to do so; an...
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