The House of Representatives will consider a major piece of union legislation this week – a bill introduced by a senior member of the Virginia delegation.
As chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Congressman Bobby Scott has spent years trying to update labor laws for the modern economy. This week, the House will vote on a bill he introduced called the Protecting the Right to Organize Act.
Doris Crouse-Mays at the Virginia AFL-CIO says this bill takes labor laws that were created in the age of manufacturing and updates them for the era of Uber.
"The current rules under the National Labor Relations Act, they're outdated and we just need to have a more level playing field for workers that they have the right to organize and have a voice without any fear of intimidation," explains Crouse-Mays.
Chris Braunlich at the Thomas Jefferson Institute says Congressman Scott's bill is heavy handed and unnecessary.
"It makes an increasing number of people who are independent contractors who want to be independent contractors forced employees and come under union agreements," says Braunlich.
Senator Tim Kaine has signed on as a co-sponsor, but Senator Mark Warner is one of a handful of Senate Democrats who have not signed to support the bill.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
