Labor - Working for Working Americans
My efforts in Congress to support American working families have earned me an "A" or 100% rating from the AFL-CIO, Teamsters, SEIU, UFCW, UAW and virtually every other labor organization which rates voting records for Members of Congress
Below are some of my recent efforts in Congress on behalf of working families
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I was proud to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which President Biden signed into law.
This once-in-a-century investment in our national infrastructure will help create good union jobs and ensure America’s competitiveness for the 21st Century.
Our nations bridges, roads, highways, and transit badly need repairs and improvements. The passage of this bill is a triumph for working people, it will bolster our economic well-being and secure our infrastructure for years to come.
“Right-to-work” laws are often referred to as “right to work for less” laws. “Right-to-work” laws are union-busting and hurt workers, plain and simple, unionization rates in the 27 states with these laws are abysmal.
Their stated goal: take jobs from other states by offering a more “business friendly climate,” which means weak unions and low wages. According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics, employees in states with these anti-labor laws average about $8,989 less per year in income than workers in labor rights states, like California.
Only by ending so-called “right-to-work” laws nationwide can we stop the race to the bottom. I will re-introduce the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren. We worked together to introduce identical legislation in the House & Senate. I have carried this bill in every Congress since 2008.
I was pleased to see the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act adopting a key provision in the bill to allow unions to override "right-to-work" laws.
The late President of AFL-CIO, the great Richard Trumka, said about this bill: “With the introduction of legislation banning so-called ‘Right-to-Work’ laws, Congressman Sherman has once again demonstrated his strong commitment to working families”.
I joined with Congressman Bobby Scott and others to introduce the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which will strengthen protections for workers’ right to organize.
Specifically, the bill would establish penalties on predatory corporations that violate workers’ rights and combat misclassification of workers from employees to independent contractor status.
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My colleagues and I passed the PRO Act in the House and I continue to urge the Senate Leadership to pass this important legislation.
I joined with Congressman Matt Cartwright to introduce the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act which would require states to provide public-service workers the freedom to join a union and collectively bargain.
This bill would provide 20 million public employees a nationwide minimum standard of collective bargaining rights.
I joined with Congressman Bobby Scott and others to introduce the Raise the Wage Act. This bill would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 by the year 2025.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, this would increase wages for roughly 32 million people, lifting millions of Americans out of poverty, and strengthening the economy for all Americans.
Currently, 20 states do not provide all state and local public safety employees the ability to collectively bargain for fair wages and hours, while seven of those states prevent them from even forming a labor union.
I joined with Congressman Dan Kildee and others to introduce The Public Safety-Employer Cooperation Act and the Fire Fighters and EMS Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, which would recognize the fundamental right of public safety employees—primarily law enforcement officers, firefighters & EMS—to form and join unions and bargain collectively with their employers over wages, hours, and working conditions.
More on Labor - Working for Working Americans
Sherman Oaks, California -- Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) joined the Biden Administration to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that is quickly transforming communities across the nation.
Sherman Oaks, California -- This week, about 48,000 unionized academic workers across the University of California’s 10 campuses — teaching assistants, postdoctoral scholars, graduate student researchers, tutors and fellows across the UC system— walked off the job, calling for better pay and benefits.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), along with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), today introduced the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act -- legislation that would eliminate so-called ‘right-to-work’ laws.
Sherman Oaks, California -- "Today, we honor the resilience and contributions of working families, the backbone of our country," said Congressman Brad Sherman in observation of Labor Day. "Everyday, we continue the fight to ensure every American has access to good-paying jobs and the ability to provide a better life for themselves and their families. Happy Labor Day."
Mission: The purpose of the Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus is to protect workers rights and American families by developing and implementing a pro-labor agenda in the United States Congress.
The Caucus will also provide information and educate Members of Congress on issues that impact labor and working families.
Members
Co-Chair - Sanchez, Linda - US Representative (38 D) - Lakewood, CA
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) voted to send historic, inflation-fighting legislation to the President’s desk. The Inflation Reduction Act will deliver landmark investments that lower families’ kitchen table costs, create millions of good-paying union jobs, combat the climate crisis, and dramatically reduce the deficit.
Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) announced today that nearly $9 million in federal funds for projects in the San Fernando Valley have been passed by the House of Representatives.
Washington, D.C. – Today the House passed the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which protects workers’ right to organize a union and bargain for higher wages and better benefits. Congressman Sherman applauds Chairman of the Education & Labor Committee, Bobby Scott, for including a provision in the PRO Act that eliminates so-called ‘right-to-work’ laws nationwide.
The United States Postal Service has always stood as a pillar of our democracy, providing critical services for Valley Residents and Americans across the nation: delivering prescriptions, Social Security benefits, paychecks, tax returns and absentee ballots to millions of Americans. As we continue to grapple with an unprecedented pandemic, these services become even more critical now.
Washington, D.C. – Today the House passed the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which strengthens federal laws that protect workers’ right to join a union and it contains a provision that eliminates so-called ‘right-to-work’ laws nationwide. This provision is similar to legislation, the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act, that Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) introduced together last week.