The Right To Unionize Helps Us Move Toward Economic Health And Justice

Jump to today’s actions:

Call the Senate
Call the House

Background

The assault on labor unions by the Republican party over the past 40 years has caused devastation to the economic health and security of American workers. It’s delivered an enormous blow to economic justice.

Since the Reagan era, union membership has been cut in half. The average workers’ pay has increased just 12% compared to 940% for CEOs.

Ensuring the right to unionize would have an important, positive impact on reducing the racial wage gap. Historically, a much higher percentage of Black workers have been unionized, and they’ve paid disproportionately for the destruction of union jobs in the loss of not only wages, but in workplace rights, protections, and benefits.

This week the House passed the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO) and it’s headed to the Senate. Among other provisions, it prevents companies from:

Sponsoring mandatory anti-union meetings.
Secretly hiring union-busters.
Forcing new hires to sign mandatory arbitration agreements.
Stalling union election processes.
Preventing or punishing workers for striking.
Misclassifying workers to deny their rights.
Throttling unions financially through so-called “right to work” laws.

Unions help secure the economic health of union and non-union workers alike. PRO is an important step in the economic recovery of American workers.

1. Call the Senate.

Script Oregon Senators

SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753

My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I want to thank the Senator for supporting Oregon workers and economic justice by sponsoring the Protecting the Right to Organize Act 2021 in the Senate. And as the House version moves to the Senate, I want to encourage him in his efforts to ensure its passage.

SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I want to thank the Senator for supporting Oregon workers and economic justice by sponsoring the Protecting the Right to Organize Act 2021 in the Senate. And as the House version moves to the Senate, I want to encourage him in his efforts to ensure its passage.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

As the Protecting the Right to Organize Act moves through the Senate, your choice is clear. You can choose to stand up for the rights, safety, and economic health of working Americans, or you can choose to answer to the wishes of wealthy corporate donors. Your constituents are watching, and we will know who you are truly working for.

2. Call the House.

Look up your rep.

Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I want to thank the Representative for voting to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act in the House. And I want to encourage her in her continued efforts working for economic justice and the rights, safety, and economic health of all Oregon workers.

Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Representative Bentz could have chosen to support Oregon workers and economic justice by voting for the Protecting the Right to Organize Act. Instead, he chose to answer to the wishes of wealthy corporate donors. I am calling to remind him who his constituents are. We are the workers that this Act will protect. We now know who you are truly working for, and we will remember.

Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I want to thank the Representative for voting to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act in the House. And I want to encourage him in his continued efforts working for economic justice and the rights, safety, and economic health of all Oregon workers.

Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)

Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I want to thank the Representative for voting to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act in the House. And I want to encourage him in his continued efforts working for economic justice and the rights, safety, and economic health of all Oregon workers.

Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)

Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I want to thank the Representative for voting to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act in the House. And I want to encourage him in his continued efforts working for economic justice and the rights, safety, and economic health of all Oregon workers.

Action 3 - Help Pass For the People Act in the Senate

Help us mobilize activists in other states to contact their MoCs Senators and urge them to support the For the People Act. We’ll have events at 4p on Friday, March 19th and at noon on Saturday, March 20th. Look for sign-up links on the Indivisible Oregon website and here in Action 3 later in the week.