Teamsters Stand Up Against Damaging Bill, Continue Fight Against Right-to-Work

The Teamsters Union strongly opposes national “right-to-work” legislation introduced today in Congress that will hurt workers and their unions.

The destructive anti-worker bill, H.R. 785, is sponsored by Reps. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Steve King (R-Iowa) and would amend the National Labor Relations Act and Railway Labor Act to institute damaging right to work in all states.

“Right-to-work is wrong for working people. We heard it during the presidential election—workers are speaking out that they want good union jobs and a strong voice at work. The last thing they want is their working conditions rolled back and their rights stripped by billionaire interests, like ALEC and the Koch brothers, who advocate for lower standards for workers through right to work,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President.

Right-to-work laws require workers and their unions to cover the costs of non-union workers who benefit from union contracts. These laws are proven to drive down wages and weaken workers’ unions by undercutting bargaining power.

Nine of the 10 states with the highest poverty rates are right-to-work states. Workers in states with right-to-work laws make about $1,500 less per year than workers in free bargaining states. Workers in right-to-work states are less likely to have employer-paid health care and pensions, and more likely to die in accidents on the job.

“This legislation does nothing to create jobs, grow the middle class or improve the lives of workers. It’s shameful that members of Congress have chosen to prioritize big business interests over the demands of their constituents. The Teamsters Union is committed to improving the lives of working people by fighting against dangerous right-to-work,” Hoffa said.

An affiliate of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Teamsters Joint Council 25 is America’s premier labor union for Chicago, Illinois and northwest Indiana.