Workers need the new Employee Rights Act

OPINION:

At a time when most Americans are worried about making ends meet, it’s vital that Congress and President Trump support more smart laws to boost wages and create a new era of well-paying jobs. The most important, by far, is the Employee Rights Act. It’s the kind of commonsense reform that will make the economy stronger for everyone in America, especially the hardworking men and women who keep our country running.

Last month, Sen. Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican, introduced the Employee Rights Act in the Senate. The bill contains numerous reforms that workers urgently need, breaking down the barriers that have blocked them for decades. Put simply, this bill would protect workers from being held back by labor laws that don’t represent their individual interests while promoting their ability to stay ahead in this time of rapid economic change.

To start, the Employee Rights Act requires the secret ballot in every unionization election. Currently, in many cases, labor unions can force workers to make their choice in full view of their co-workers and union organizers, opening the door to intimidation and harassment. Yet that’s not how Americans vote in other elections, for good reason. The Employee Rights Act ensures that when workers vote on whether to join a union, they have the same level of privacy as when they vote for president, governor or any other elected office.

The Employee Rights Act also protects worker privacy by letting them choose the personal information unions can access. Right now, labor unions essentially have access to everything: workers’ phone numbers, home and email addresses and more. Workers deserve to decide when and how they are contacted. This reform would also protect them and their families from harassment and intimidation, empowering them to make their choices without fear of reprisal. When workers can freely choose what they think is best, they can better pursue their best and most rewarding careers.

Millions of workers already live in states that let them work without being forced to join a union, such as Mr. Scott’s home state of South Carolina, and the Employee Rights Act further strengthens their rights. They are still required to have a union contract at unionized workplaces, but under this reform, they could negotiate their own contract directly with their employer. Whether in South Carolina or any of the other 25 states that have right-to-work laws, millions of workers could secure higher wages, larger bonuses and stronger benefits — whatever best fits their personal needs.

Crucially, the Employee Rights Act guarantees every worker’s right to design their job to fit their life. For one, it ensures that a worker can continue to pursue gig work, earn a side income or make a living as an independent contractor. That right is under threat nationwide. For a worker who wants to start a small franchise business or work as a subcontractor, the Employee Rights Act prevents federal and state agencies from blocking them.

In other words, it empowers workers to become owners and entrepreneurs, achieving even more success while further contributing to our economy.

Bottom line: The Employee Rights Act modernizes federal labor law, bringing it into the 21st century. It’s a stark contrast with the status quo, which is firmly rooted in the outdated ideas of the Industrial Revolution. Now is no time to continue trapping workers or further restrict their rights and choices. Just the opposite: Now is the time to empower workers to chart the future they want for themselves and their families.

The Employee Rights Act is fully aligned with Mr. Trump’s pro-worker vision. It builds on the working-class tax cuts and affordable health care reforms he has already signed. The best way to continue that progress is by fully protecting workers’ right to climb the ladder of opportunity because when they do, the rest of America rises too.

• F. Vincent Vernuccio is president of the Institute for the American Worker.