Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Rand Paul, along with 16 other Senate Republicans, have introduced the National Right to Work Act. This legislation aims to safeguard the freedom of individuals to form, join, or assist labor organizations or choose not to participate in such activities.

Senator Britt stated, "After four years of wages failing to keep up with inflation under the Biden-Harris Administration, Republicans are putting American workers first. The National Right to Work Act would protect Americans from being forced to hand over part of their hard-earned paycheck to a union they didn’t choose to join. I’m proud to support this legislation that rightly ensures hardworking Americans are truly empowered to negotiate the terms of their own employment."

The proposed act seeks to repeal six provisions in the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act. These provisions currently allow private-sector workers and airline and railroad employees to be terminated if they do not contribute part of their earnings to a union. The bill intends to return bargaining power directly into the hands of American workers.

Dr. Paul commented, "The National Right to Work Act ensures all American workers have the ability to choose to refrain from joining or paying dues to a union as a condition for employment." He noted that Kentucky and 26 other states have already enacted right-to-work laws and urged federal alignment with these state-level precedents.

Alabama has been recognized as a right-to-work state since 1953, further solidified by a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2016.

The bill is also supported by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Mike Lee (R-Utah).