{"id":2192761,"date":"2024-03-05T08:13:02","date_gmt":"2024-03-05T13:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-pro-act-would-boost-union-bosses-and-sabotage-independent-workers\/"},"modified":"2024-03-05T08:20:21","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T13:20:21","slug":"democrats-pro-act-would-boost-union-bosses-and-sabotage-independent-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-pro-act-would-boost-union-bosses-and-sabotage-independent-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"PRO Act: Democrats&#8217; Plan to Empower Union Leaders and Undermine Independent Workers"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrats-pro-act-would-boost-union-bosses-and-sabotage-independent-workers%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2192761&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"article-content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mike Rowe Takes a Stand Against \u200dthe PRO Act<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Mike \u200dRowe, the beloved TV \u200cshow host, podcaster, and America&#8217;s most famous freelancer, recently\u2062 declared\u2063 a \u200bcrusade against the Protecting\u200c the Right to Organize Act (PRO) Act. This\u200d bill, currently going \u200dthrough the U.S. Congress, poses\u2063 a threat to the financial freedom of 70 million\u2062 American freelancers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Anti-Freelance Battle:\u2063 PRO Act \u200bvs.\u200c AB5<\/h3>\n<p>The PRO Act&#8217;s anti-freelance provision closely resembles \u2063California&#8217;s AB5 \u200claw. In\u200d 2018, California&#8217;s Supreme Court\u2062 ruled that most wage-earning workers should be\u2064 classified as employees, not independent contractors. AB5, the gig worker bill,\u2063 was born from this ruling and drastically changed labor classification in the state.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>AB5 supporters claimed it would protect workers&#8217; rights,\u200d but \u2064it faced strong \u200dopposition.<\/li>\n<li>Many independent contractors feared losing their jobs, while small businesses worried about closure.<\/li>\n<li>The California \u2062Trucking Association\u2064 filed a lawsuit against \u200cAB5, highlighting the\u200b damage it could cause to the trucking industry.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Despite concerns, California&#8217;s Democratic-led state assembly passed AB5, which went into effect\u2062 in\u2064 2020. \u200bHowever, a preliminary injunction \u2063delayed its \u200cenforcement, and it only took full effect after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review it.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Efforts to \u2064Mitigate AB5&#8217;s Impact<\/h3>\n<p>Recognizing the damage caused by AB5, the state\u200c assembly passed AB2257 in 2020, creating exemptions for\u200c various professions. Additionally, California voters \u2062approved Prop 22, exempting certain companies from classifying their app-based drivers \u200das employees.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Biden and Dems Push the PRO Act<\/h3>\n<p>Despite AB5&#8217;s failures, President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress sought\u200c to turn it\u2062 into\u200b federal \u200claw through the PRO Act. This pro-union\u200d bill would override right-to-work laws in 27 \u2062states and adopt \u2063AB5&#8217;s &#8220;ABC&#8221; test, limiting independent contractor status.<\/p>\n<p>Unions applauded the PRO Act, as it would increase their membership by\u2064 reclassifying more workers as employees.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Opposition to the PRO Act<\/h3>\n<p>Mike Rowe, a chronic freelancer\u200b himself, has been vocal in \u200chis opposition to\u200c the PRO Act. He has shared videos featuring\u200b independent contractors who value the flexibility and\u200b independence of their work. A survey of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cuomo-to-partially-reopen-indoor-dining-in-nyc-for-valentines-day-if-positivity-rates-hold\/\" title=\"Cuomo To Partially Reopen Indoor Dining In NYC For Valentine\u2019s Day, \u2018If Positivity Rates Hold\u2019\">small business owners<\/a> also \u200crevealed the potential harm the PRO Act could cause:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Seven out of ten \u2064small business owners believe the PRO Act would force them to \u200bclose or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/from-amazon-to-starbucks-workers-caught-between-big-business-and-big-labor-need-support-from-republicans\/\" title=\"From Amazon To Starbucks, Workers Caught Between Big Business And Big Labor Need Support From Republicans\">hire fewer workers<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Most\u2062 independent contractors \u200banticipate losing a significant portion of their business.<\/li>\n<li>Nearly half of all small businesses would be \u200cforced to shut\u200b down.<\/li>\n<li>Minority-owned businesses and women-owned\u200d businesses would suffer\u2064 major losses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Women, in particular, \u2062have \u200cbenefited from the gig economy,\u2064 gaining financial freedom while accommodating other responsibilities.<\/p>\n<p>To prevent the PRO Act\u200c from becoming law, concerned citizens can \u200cshare Mike Rowe&#8217;s videos and\u2062 contact their congressional representatives to voice their opposition. It \u2063is crucial to \u200dprevent the nationwide spread of\u200b the\u200c damage caused by AB5 and protect the livelihoods of 70 million hard-working American independent \u200bcontractors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How did Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash attempt to avoid the negative impact \u200cof AB5?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  5 Backlash<\/h3>\n<p>Following\u200b the implementation of\u2063 AB5, various industries and individuals have made\u2063 efforts to mitigate\u2064 its negative impact.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash, three of the\u2064 largest gig economy companies,\u2062 spent millions of dollars \u200cto push for a\u2062 ballot measure,\u200c Proposition 22, \u2062which would\u2063 exempt them from AB5. The measure passed in\u200c November \u20642020, allowing these \u200ccompanies to continue\u2062 classifying their drivers as independent contractors.<\/li>\n<li>Freelancers and independent contractors formed \u2064advocacy groups like the \u2064California \u200dFreelance Writers United,\u2063 fighting for exemptions for their \u200bindustries or complete repeal \u2063of AB5.<\/li>\n<li>Several lawsuits were filed challenging AB5 on constitutional grounds, arguing that it violated the rights of independent \u200ccontractors to \u200dpursue their chosen occupations\u2064 freely.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The\u2063 PRO Act\u2019s Threat to Freelancers<\/h3>\n<p>The PRO \u200bAct, now making \u2064its way through \u2062Congress, poses a similar threat to freelancers across the nation. If passed, the bill could impose \u200bCalifornia\u2019s AB5-style restrictions\u200d on freelance workers nationwide. The bill\u2019s supporters argue that it is necessary to protect workers\u2019 rights and strengthen unions. However,\u2063 many believe\u2062 that it will\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joe-biden-budget-chief-tax-increase-necessary-to-pay-for-6t-spending-plan\/\" title=\"Joe Biden budget chief: tax increase necessary to pay for T spending plan\">stifle economic growth<\/a>, limit job opportunities, and burden small businesses.<\/p>\n<p>Mike Rowe, who has long been a vocal advocate for skilled trades and the dignity of work, sees the\u200c PRO Act\u200d as a significant threat to freelancers in America.\u2062 In a recent Facebook post, he stated, \u201cWhile I still believe our skills gap \u2062is partly \u2063a \u200cresult of bad PR and misguided policy, I think the PRO Act is likely to make things\u2064 much \u200cworse.\u200d\u201d Rowe argues that the bill will discourage businesses from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/parker-progressives-versus-independent-contractors\/\" title=\"PARKER: Progressives Versus Independent Contractors\">hiring independent contractors<\/a> and instead push them\u200b towards hiring\u200d permanent employees, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-mom-makes-epic-points-in-ripping-school-board-over-males-allowed-in-females-locker-room\/\" title=\"Mom passionately argues against males being allowed in females' locker room at school board meeting\">potentially limiting opportunities<\/a> for freelancers and stifling economic innovation.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Freelancer\u2019s Fight\u200b for \u2063Freedom<\/h3>\n<p>Freelancers across the nation have \u200bstarted speaking out against \u2063the PRO \u200cAct, concerned about\u2063 the potential loss \u200cof financial freedom\u200d and\u200b flexibility that comes with\u200d their freelance work. They argue\u2064 that the bill\u2019s framework fails to differentiate \u200dbetween \u2064true \u2063independent contractors and gig workers who prefer the flexibility of freelancing.<\/p>\n<p>Organizations \u2062like the National Association of Independent\u2063 Contractors \u200c(NAIC),\u200b Freelancers \u2064Union,\u200d and Americans \u200cfor Prosperity have\u200d collectively\u2064 voiced their opposition \u2063to the PRO Act.\u200c They urge Congress to consider alternative\u2064 proposals\u200c that protect \u2063workers\u2019 rights without negatively impacting the freelance industry and discourage economic \u2064growth.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p>The \u2062battle \u200dbetween legislation like AB5 \u2063and the PRO Act and the freelance industry raises important questions about the future\u2064 of work and the rights of independent\u2062 contractors. \u2062As discussions continue,\u200d it is crucial to strike a\u200c balance\u2063 between protecting\u200b workers\u2019 rights and preserving the flexibility and economic opportunities that \u200dfreelancing provides. The\u2064 PRO Act, \u200das it stands, \u2062may\u2063 not \u200bbe \u2062the right solution to achieve\u2064 this balance.<\/p>\n<p>Mike Rowe\u2019s\u2064 decision to take \u200ca stand against the PRO Act \u2063highlights the\u2062 concerns and \u2062fears of\u2063 millions of American freelancers who rely on their independent\u200b work for their livelihood.\u200b To\u2064 ensure a fair and thriving economy, it is\u200b vital for policymakers to carefully consider\u200c and address the needs of the freelance workforce when crafting\u200b legislation.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mike Rowe, renowned TV host and freelancer, is vehemently opposing the PRO Act. This legislation, currently under consideration in Congress, aims to ban freelancing, jeopardizing the financial independence of 70 million American freelancers. Rowe is leading the charge against the anti-freelance provision of the PRO Act<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":536,"featured_media":2192762,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/34956400962_321d00d803_o.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2192761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/34956400962_321d00d803_o.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2192761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/536"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2192761"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2192761\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2192762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2192761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2192761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2192761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}