Union Organization Backs Executive Order In Support of Labor Union and Workers

President Biden signed an executive order on Monday, April 26, establishing a new White House task force to empower and promote labor workers and unions across the country. At least one glazing industry union organization has spoken out in support of this effort.

The White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment will be chaired by Vice President Kamala Harris, vice-chaired by Secretary Marty Walsh, and will include more than 20 cabinet members and heads of federal agencies who will commit to an approach to empower workers, according to the White House.

According to a fact-sheet from the White House, the executive order states that the task force should provide the president, within 180 days, with recommendation addressing two key issues: “First, how can existing policies, programs, and practices be used to promote worker organizing and collective bargaining in the federal government? And second, where are new policies needed to achieve the Task Force’s mission and what are the associated regulatory and statutory changes needed?”

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) in Hanover, Md., has expressed support in the executive order and the anticipated status of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.

“We’re glad that we finally have an Administration that understands the importance of collective bargaining,” says Jim Williams Jr., IUPAT general vice president at large. “President Biden has put his words into action and we look forward to working with his new task force and Congress to expand the right to organize to all working people by passing the PRO Act or finding solutions absent Congressional action.”