{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=1c5e5563-b4d7-4d0f-ac7c-5a31d649998c", "EMPLOYEE RIGHTS ACT COSPONSORED BY COCHRAN & WICKER", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "MS", "Thad Cochran", "C000567", "www.cochran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today announced their support for legislation to give workers more of a say on whether to join a labor union, while also offering them stronger protections from union tactics regarding dues, votes and forms of intimidation.\r\nThe Employee Rights Act (S.1712) cosponsored by Cochran and Wicker represents an attempt to update U.S. labor laws for the first time in more than 50 years.\u00a0 Among other things, the bill would allow workers to choose or reject union representation without fear of intimidation or retribution.\u00a0 It also includes provisions to address secret ballot elections, union recertification, paycheck protection, strikes, and anti-racketeering loopholes.\r\n\u201cLabor unions today operate under outdated laws and policies that infringe on workers\u2019 freedoms and inhibits overall economic growth.\u00a0 The Employee Rights Act would update the relationship between workers and unions.\u00a0 It would give employees greater power to determine if they want union representation and make unions more accountable to those workers,\u201d Cochran said.\r\n\u201cThis legislation gives workers the freedom they deserve to make the best choice for themselves,\u201d said Wicker.\u00a0 \u201cThe Employee Rights Act protects employees from being forced to join unions or to have their union dues used for political purposes without their consent.\u00a0 It is vital that the rights of American workers are protected and not unfairly left at the whim of Big Labor.\u201d\r\nIntroduced by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), S.1712 is intended to ensure that the rights of workers, not the unions, are the priority under labor agreements.\r\nIn addition to Cochran and Wicker, other cosponsors include Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Tom Coburn (R -Okla.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and John Thune (R-S.D.).\r\nA companion measure (HR.3485) was introduced in the House by Representative Tom Price (R-Ga.).\u00a0 Representative Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) is among its 45 cosponsors.\r\nThe following is a review of provisions in the Employee Rights Act (S.1712):\r\nSecret Ballot Elections \u2013 Guarantees employees the right to a secret ballot election when deciding whether to join a union.   \u00a0  Union Recertification Elections \u2013 Requires unionized workplaces with employee turnover exceeding 50 percent to conduct secret ballot elections to determine whether a majority of employees still wants union representation.  \u00a0  Paycheck Protection \u2013 Prevents unions from using employees\u2019 dues and fees for purposes unrelated to their bargaining functions\u2013including political contributions and expenditures\u2013without the employees\u2019 written consent.  \u00a0  Secret Ballot Strike Votes \u2013 Provides employees the right to a secret ballot vote before union leaders can order a strike.  \u00a0  Prevent \u201cQuickie\u201d or \u201cSnap\u201d Elections \u2013 Negates recent National Labor Relations Board regulatory efforts to unfairly expedite union elections by preventing unions from obtaining employees\u2019 private information and by ensuring due process in determining issues such as appropriate bargaining units and individuals\u2019 eligibility.   \u00a0  Prevent Union Coercion \u2013 Permits employees to collect lost wages, illegally-collected union dues, and/or liquidated damages from a union that interferes with their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.\u00a0 It would allow right to petition for decertification of the union, and impose a procedural penalty on unions that interfere with the decertification petition process.  \u00a0  Criminalize Union Threats \u2013 Strengthens prohibitions on the use or threat of violence for achieving purposes related to unionization and collective bargaining.\u00a0 This provision would resolve loopholes created by the U.S. Supreme Court in U.S. v. Enmons, which effectively exempts unions from federal anti-racketeering statutes.  \u00a0  Eliminate Needless Disparities \u2013 Conforms and make equal the definition of an \u201cunfair labor practice\u201d on the part of a union with that of an employer.\u00a0 In addition, allow every employee in a represented bargaining unit\u2013regardless of union membership status\u2013to have the same rights as union members to vote on the ratification of a collective bargaining agreement or to engage in strike or work stoppage.\u00a0 Require unions to provide audited financial statements to agency fee payers.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=1c5e5563-b4d7-4d0f-ac7c-5a31d649998c"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2981370091438293, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}