Know Your Labor Rights Act: New Legislation for Workplace Transparency

New Legislation Aims to Bolster Worker Awareness of Labor Rights

In a bid to enhance workplace transparency, the Know Your Labor Rights Act has been introduced in Congress. This legislation, backed by Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), along with Representatives Riley Moore (R-WV) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), mandates that employers clearly communicate federally protected labor rights to their employees.

Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien commented, “Greedy corporations and corrupt managers in nearly every sector of the economy put in overtime trying to stop working people from organizing. But the right to organize is sacred, and American workers should be informed of their legal right to do so. The Know Your Labor Rights Act would help put power back in the hands of working people. It would mandate that employers post information about labor rights in an easily accessible place so that workers remain informed and empowered.”

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1935 already guarantees workers the right to organize and join unions. However, employers are not currently obligated to inform workers of these rights. The proposed act seeks to change this, requiring that labor rights information be posted prominently and new employees be notified, with penalties for failure to comply.

A recent survey indicates strong bipartisan public support, with 71 percent of Americans in favor of requiring employers to post notices of NLRA rights, highlighting widespread demand for transparency and fairness in workplaces.

This legislative move aligns with other congressional efforts to enhance worker rights, such as the Faster Labor Contracts Act, which proposes that employers must begin collective bargaining within 10 days following a successful union vote.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, established in 1903, represents 1.3 million workers across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit Teamster.org. Stay updated by following them on X at @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.