Nationwide Right To Unionize Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2729
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-04: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-11T12:03:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to eliminate state authority to prohibit union security agreements, ensuring that requirements for union membership as a condition of employment cannot be banned at the state level under federal labor law.
Key Provisions
- The bill repeals subsection (b) of section 14 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 164).
- This action removes the existing federal permission for states to enact laws that bar agreements requiring employees to join or pay dues to a labor organization.
- The short title of the bill is the "Nationwide Right To Unionize Act."
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Current law allows states to pass "right-to-work" statutes that override certain collective bargaining agreements.
- Repealing the subsection removes this state-level exception, making federal rules on union security agreements apply uniformly across all states.
- No new regulatory structures or agencies are created; the change operates solely through the repeal.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Federal oversight under the National Labor Relations Act would extend to labor agreements previously restricted by state laws.
- On citizens: Employees in states with right-to-work laws could face new requirements or options regarding union membership in covered workplaces.
- On international relations: No direct effects are outlined in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Labor organizations seeking to negotiate union security clauses.
- Employers operating in multiple states or subject to the National Labor Relations Act.
- Workers in states currently enforcing right-to-work policies.
- State governments that previously exercised authority under the repealed provision.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The repeal would increase federal preemption in labor relations, limiting state variation in union rules.
- It could raise questions about the balance between federal and state powers in employment matters, though the bill itself makes no explicit constitutional claims.
- Implementation would depend on existing National Labor Relations Board procedures for interpreting and enforcing the revised statute.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (15)
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-04: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-09-04: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Nationwide Right To Unionize Act — issued 2025-09-04 — PDF (2 pages)