Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Collective Bargaining and Union Membership
Ranking Member Scott Votes “NO” on Extreme Republicans’ Anti-Worker, Anti-Union Resolution
01.12.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby Scott” delivered the following floor remarks in opposition to House Republicans’ H.J. Res. 98, an extreme resolution that would undermine workers’ ability to bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. The resolution would repeal the National Labor Relations Board’s 2023 joint employer rule, which ensures that companies cannot evade their responsibility to negotiate with workers by hiding behind subcontractors and … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Praises Bipartisan Workforce Development Bills, Urges Opposition to Partisan Anti-Worker Bills
12.12.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 6585, the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, H.R. 6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act, H.J. Res. 98, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to “Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status,” and H.R. 3400, the Small Businesses before … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Praises Biden Proposal to Ensure Workers Have a Voice in Workplace Health and Safety
11.14.23 WASHINGTON - Yesterday, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) sent a letter to the Department of Labor regarding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed rule to strengthen employees’ voice in ensuring the health and safety of their workplace. The proposal clarifies that workers may authorize a third party, including a union representative, to join an OSHA walkaround health inspection when an inspector deems that they ar… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on October Jobs Report
11.03.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 150,000 jobs in October as the unemployment rate ticked up slightly from 3.8 percent to 3.9 percent. Under President Biden’s leadership, the economy has added nearly 14 million jobs. “Today’s jobs report once again underscores the strength of our economy under President Biden’s leadership. The Biden administration has consistently pr… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott: Final Joint Employer Standard is “Good for Workers, Good for Law-abiding Businesses, and Good for our Economy”
10.26.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Scott issued the following statement after the Biden administration announced a final rule to ensure that workers hired through subcontractors, temporary staffing agencies, and other intermediaries can hold all the entities with the power to control their working conditions accountable for their right to bargain collectively. “Workers can only negotiate for higher pay, better benefits, and safer working conditions if all companies with power to control their employme… Continue Reading
Bipartisan Labor Leaders Introduce Bill to Protect Workers’ Right to Organize
02.28.23 WASHINGTON - Today, a bipartisan group of House and Senate Members introduced the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2023 (H.R. 20), a comprehensive proposal to protect workers’ right to come together and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. The House bill was introduced by the Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03) and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01). The Senate companion was … Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Leads Members in Support of Proposed Rule to Protect Workers’ Rights
12.08.22 WASHINGTON - Today, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) led a letter with 52 House Democrats to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in support of its proposed joint employer rule. The proposed rule would help ensure that workers—who are hired through subcontractors, temporary staffing agencies, and other intermediaries—can hold all the entities that control their working conditions accountable for their right to bargain collectively for higher pay, … Continue Reading
Retirement Benefits of More Than 350,000 Central States Workers and Retirees Saved by the American Rescue Plan Pension Relief
12.08.22 WASHINGTON - Today, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) announced that 357,056 participants of the Central States Pension Fund will have their retirement benefits saved and 1,005 businesses contributing to the plan will be protected. The pension relief was made possible through the American Rescue Plan, which included a solution to the multiemployer pension crisis. To watch the video, click here.Special Thanks: Ken Stribling, Davey Grubbs, Bernie Anderson, Dana Vargo, Don Vargo, F… Continue Reading
NEW: Pension Recipient Shares Impact of Relief Secured in American Rescue Plan
11.07.22 WASHINGTON - Today, the Education and Labor Committee released a new video of Dana Vargo, the spouse of a retired Teamster and a leading advocate in the fight to protect pension plans. In the video, Vargo discusses how the relief that Congressional Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration secured in the American Rescue Plan has allowed her and her husband to spend more time with their grandchildren. To date, the American Rescue Plan has saved the pensions of 156,759 Americans and protected … Continue Reading
Retired Truck Driver Celebrates Relief Secured in American Rescue Plan
11.02.22 WASHINGTON - Today, the Education and Labor Committee released a new video of retired truck driver Jack Palush discussing the impact of the relief that Congressional Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration secured in the American Rescue Plan. To date, the American Rescue Plan has saved the pensions of 156,759 Americans and protected 785 businesses from being at-risk of closing their doors. To view the video, click here. The multiemployer pension crisis threatened to strip more than a … Continue Reading
Starbucks Worker, Michelle Eisen: “It should not take an act of bravery to ensure you have a voice at work.”
09.14.22 WASHINGTON - At today’s Education and Labor Committee hearing, “In Solidarity: Removing Barriers to Organizing,” Michelle Eisen, a Starbucks barista, explained what it was like to organize at her workplace. View Michelle Eisen’s full remarks on YouTube. “It should not take an act of bravery to ensure that you have a voice at work. We need Starbucks to recognize our desire to organize, which the NLRA explicitly states is our right. We need Starbucks to stop mistreating the workers it claims t… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Opening Statement at Labor Organizing Hearing
09.14.22 WASHINGTON - House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, “In Solidarity: Removing Barriers to Organizing. “One week and a half after the nation celebrated Labor Day, this Committee is meeting to discuss the growing popularity of unions among the American people and the steps Congress must take to ensure every worker has an opportunity to reap the benefits of joining a union. “Some of our nation’s gre… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on PRO Act Provisions in Budget Agreement
07.14.21 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement reporting that key provisions from the PRO Act are included in the Senate budget agreement. "The Senate needs to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO) Act in its entirety, but any step we can take to defend workers' rights is meaningful. Based on past precedent, there is good reason to believe important PRO Act provisions can pass through the Budget reconciliation process, and I applaud their i… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Amazon Union Election
04.09.21 WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement regarding the Amazon union election in Bessemer, Alabama. “America’s workers will not have consistent access to free, fair, and safe union elections until we strengthen our nation’s labor laws. We cannot continue allowing employers to interfere with workers’ decision whether or not to form a union. “The Senate must pass the PRO Act.”… Continue Reading
Committee Report Details Years-Long Attacks on Workers’ Rights, Unions by Trump Administration’s NLRB
10.14.20 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Labor released a report chronicling the attacks on workers' rights and unions by the Trump administration's National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The report compiles years of Committee oversight and details how the NLRB, the federal agency charged with protecting most private sector workers' right to organize, has been plagued by corruption, conflicts, and crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that far too many workers do not have ac… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott: NLRB’s Joint Employer Rule Erodes Workers’ Most Basic Workplace Rights
02.25.20 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, issued the following statement after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced a final rule to narrow its standard for determining whether two or more entities are joint employers under the National Labor Relations Act. "Workers can only negotiate for higher pay, better benefits, and safer working conditions if all companies with control over their employment are required to be at th… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Celebrates the House Passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act
02.06.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House voted to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act [224-194]. "Today, House Democrats advanced the most significant upgrade to U.S. labor law in 80 years. The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act is a bold proposal that makes necessary changes to protect and strengthen workers' power in the workplace. "When workers have the power to stand together and form a union, they have higher pay, be… Continue Reading
House and Senate Democrats Unveil Landmark Legislation to Protect Workers’ Right to Organize
05.02.19 WASHINGTON - Today, House and Senate Democrats introduced the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act-comprehensive legislation to strengthen protections for workers' right to organize a union and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. As wage inequality continues to leave workers and middle-class families behind, this legislation would empower millions of Americans to stand together and ensure hardworking people are getting their fair share of economic growt… Continue Reading
As Inequality Reaches Highest Levels Since The Great Depression, Senate & House Democrats Introduce New Legislation To Provide A Better Deal For American Workers
06.13.18 WASHINGTON– Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), and House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), introduced legislation as part of their economic agenda, “A Better Deal.” As the income inequality gap reaches the highest levels since the Great Depression, many middle class families are finding it increasingly difficult to ac… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott’s Statement on Supreme Court Decision Undermining Employees’ Rights to Collective Action
05.21.18 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 t… Continue Reading