Southwest Missouri Congressman Burlison introduces the Worker’s Choice Act of 2023
WASHINGTON– Today, Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-07) introduced the Worker’s Choice Act which would allow workers who opt out of a union in a right-to-work state to represent themselves before employers.
“The Worker’s Choice Act allows employees the ability to negotiate for themselves the working conditions they will accept and will free them from being subjected to the terms of a union negotiated contract” said Rep. Burlison.
“Workers in right-to-work states are not truly allowed to negotiate their own working conditions when they are still forced to accept union-negotiated terms. By freeing workers from union contracts, we are allowing American workers to have control over their own destiny. Self-determination made our country great, and this legislation supports the spirit of independence for the American worker.”
The Worker’s Choice Act would give workers the option to either be a union member and accept working conditions negotiated by the union or negotiate for compensation and working conditions independently and provide for their own representation in grievances and other dealings.
This legislation also addresses the forced rider issue, wherein workers in right-to-work states, despite not belonging to a union, are still forced to accept the conditions a union has negotiated.
The Worker’s Choice Act does not impose new restrictions on employers, workers, or unions and does not make any changes to collective bargaining.
Attached is the bill text
Click here to read an op-ed on the bill
Original co-sponsors for this legislation include Representatives Bob Good (VA-05), Troy Nehls (TX-22),
Coalition signers for this legislation include F. Vincent Vernuccio, President, Institute for the American Worker; Akash Chougule, Vice President, Americans for Prosperity; Steve Delie, Director of Labor Policy, Mackinac Center; Tom Hebert, Executive Director, Open Competition Center; Elisabeth Kines Messenger, CEO, Americans for Fair Treatment; Max Nelson, Director of Research and Government Affairs, Freedom Foundation; Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform, Center for the American Worker America First Policy Institute, Rachel Greszler, Heritage Action.
“Rep. Eric Burlison’s Worker’s Choice bill empowers both workers and unions. It allows workers to say “no thanks” to unwanted representation and unions to say “goodbye” to workers who are not interested in accepting or paying for their services. We applaud this commonsense legislation made possible by the Congressman’s leadership,” – F. Vincent Vernuccio, President of Institute for the American Worker.