Labor Caucus Members Fight for Funding to Protect Workers’ Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, Labor Caucus members led four letters advocating for funding for federal agencies that enforce federal labor laws, uphold workers’ right to organize, and promote good faith relationships between employers, unions, and employees in Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations bills.
“It is essential that the agencies charged with protecting workers’ rights and safety on the job receive the full funding they need to effectively enforce federal labor laws,” said Congressional Labor Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Steven Horsford (D-NV), and Mark Pocan (D-WI). “For too long, powerful interests have sought to weaken key labor enforcement agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board, Federal Labor Relations Authority, National Mediation Board, and Department of Labor, allowing unscrupulous employers to get away with stealing wages, violating safety standards, and interfering in organizing efforts. Our Caucus is committed to ensuring that these critical agencies have the tools they need to hold bad actors accountable – a vital step towards a future where the interests of working people are front and center.”
The letters led by Labor Caucus members include:
The Labor Caucus Co-Chairs led 180 Members in support of funding for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and eliminating a rider that prohibits the Board from conducting union elections via an electronic voting system. The NLRB’s continued surge in caseload—including a 35 percent increase in union election petitions in the first half of FY24 compared to the first half of FY23—and decline over time in funding in real dollars for the NLRB demonstrates the need to increase funding for the Board.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) led a group of 61 Members in support of funding for the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). The FLRA is a small but vital agency that promotes effective labor-management relations across the federal government and is essential for smooth operations at a number of the government’s largest agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Unfortunately, the agency is mired in a backlog of hundreds of unfinished cases, harming both management and labor.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) led 43 Members in support of funding for the National Mediation Board (NMB). The NMB is an independent U.S. federal government agency that facilitates labor-management relations within the nation’s railroad and airline industries. The NMB’s funding level has remained stagnant in recent years, with an increase of less than $2 million since FY2011.
Reps. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), and Val Hoyle (D-OR) led 61 Members in support of funding for worker protection agencies within the Department of Labor, including the Wage and Hour Division, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), Office of the Solicitor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). These agencies enforce workplace safety, protect workers’ retirement savings, and go after wage-theft violators. Increasing their funding levels is key to protecting workers from bad actors.
You can read the full letters through the links below: