Basics

Dating back to its origins in the New Deal era – the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, and more – the pro-labor policy movement has been chiefly a Democratic project. After decades of partisan gridlock on labor issues, new proposals are reshaping the conversation in Congress, this time with new voices at the table. 

While Democrats have long championed legislation like the PRO Act (read more on the PRO Act here) to strengthen union organizing rights and expand worker protections, a new movement supporting unions is gaining traction on the political right.l right. Though still limited in scope, emerging proposals from the Senate Republican ranks reflect a growing openness to labor protections historically championed by Democrats, including efforts like the Faster Labor Contracts Act and a revised Warehouse Worker Protection Act. This Basic explores the evolution of labor policy in the 118th and 119th Congresses and its reception amongst industry groups, advocates, and both major parties.