The American people like unions, but very few belong to one, a discrepancy that places the U.S. labor movement in a precarious state. If Americans like unions and want to join them but aren’t, it’s most likely because they can’t. But a possible fix awaits in the form of the “Protecting the Right to Organize Act 2021.” The PRO Act is a far-reaching piece of legislation with the goal of strengthening organized labor. It would alter the balance of power in labor-management relations.
If enacted, the PRO Act would mark the biggest expansion of collective-bargaining rights in decades. It would amend the National Labor Relations Act, the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959. President Biden supports the bill, and he may soon be in a position to make good on that support. The bill passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support on March 9, 2021 and is headed to the Senate. Bu it may face a harder road in the Senate, where a virtually certain Republican filibuster could block its passage.
Diane L. Dee, President of Advantage HR Consulting, has over 25 years of experience in the Human Resources arena. Diane’s background includes experience in HR consulting and administration in corporate, government, consulting, and pro bono environments. Diane founded Advantage HR Consulting in early 2016. Under Diane’s leadership, Advantage HR provides comprehensive, cost-effective Human Resources solutions for small to mid-sized firms in the greater Chicagoland area. Additionally, Diane conducts webinars on a wide variety of HR topics for various training firms across the country. Diane holds a Master's Certificate in Human Resources from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and has attained SPHR, SHRM-SCP, sHRBP, and HRPM® certifications. Diane is a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, Diane performs pro bono work through the Taproot Foundation assisting non-profit clients by integrating their Human Resources goals with their corporate strategies.