In the News

As labor unions gain in popularity, workers’ rights remain under threat. But while private sector workers have the right to form unions under federal law, public service workers lack that same guarantee.

That’s why AFSCME applauds Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Reps. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) for reintroducing the bipartisan Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act (H.R. 8426 / S. 4363). Unveiled Thursday, the twin House and Senate bills would set minimum nationwide standards of collective bargaining rights that states must provide all public service workers.

Specifically, the legislation would empower the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to determine whether a state, territory or locality provides public service workers the right to:

• Form a union and collectively bargain over wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment;
• Have their union recognized by their employer if a majority of employees vote to unionize and be free from forced recertification elections;
• Have procedures for resolving impasses in collective bargaining and filing suit in court to enforce their labor rights; and more.

The bills would give states lots of flexibility to write their own labor laws, provided they meet these minimum standards.