HR Policy Association Urges Balanced Labor Law Reform

The Association sent a letter to Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and other Senators, urging a more balanced approach to labor law reform in response to Sen. Hawley’s proposed legislative framework which includes several pro-union changes to federal labor law. 

The framework: In January, Sen. Hawley released a “Pro-Worker Framework” for labor law reform that included several provisions from the notoriously pro-union PRO Act, such as forced arbitration of initial collective bargaining agreements. Read more on the framework here.

Our letter: The Association acknowledged the clear need to modernize federal labor law to better reflect current workplace and labor relations realities. 

• However, the Association expressed its concern that Sen. Hawley’s proposed framework leans heavily towards union priorities rather than introducing necessary balanced and meaningful reforms that will benefit all stakeholders equally. These pro-union provisions include:

  • Removing employers from the representation election process and restricting employees’ ability to make informed decisions about representation. 

  • Empowering the federal government to write initial collective bargaining agreement terms. 

What’s next: Sen. Hawley is seeking both Democrat and Republican cosponsors and is expected to release full legislative text in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the Association will meet with lawmakers to advocate for a more neutral, balanced approach. 

The bigger picture:  There is momentum for labor reform among both Republicans (particularly within its growing populist wing) and Democrats, making comprehensive reforms more likely than in previous Congresses.

• Yes, but: Even with some bipartisan support, any labor law reform bill faces an uphill climb in the deeply divided Congress (and is unlikely to be a priority of the current Trump administration).