Ranking Member Scott’s Statement on Supreme Court Decision Undermining Employees’ Rights to Collective Action
WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court issued its 5-4 decision in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis.
“The National Labor Relations Act guarantees workers the right to collectively stand together to improve their wages and working conditions. However, today the Supreme Court ignored the plain text of the law and held that employers may force workers into signing arbitration agreements that waive the right to pursue work-related claims together. By undermining the right of workers to collectively seek recourse for wage theft, discrimination, and other workplace violations, the Court’s conservative bloc has rolled back a key provision of the National Labor Relations Act.
“Today’s decision will have serious consequences for millions of workers. As part of our commitment to giving workers a better deal, Democrats will introduce legislation to correct this injustice and strengthen workers’ rights to collective action.”
Mandatory arbitration agreements have become increasingly common, and research from the Economic Policy Institute shows that over 55 percent of all workers are subject to mandatory arbitration requirements and 30 percent of employers that require mandatory arbitration also include class action waivers.
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