Model State Sectoral Bargaining Law
Labor law in the United States is broken. The Center for Labor and a Just Economy is proud to release a Model State Sectoral Bargaining Law, which offers lawmakers a framework for legislating groundbreaking sectoral bargaining systems that would allow multiple employers and workers to create sector-specific agreements. Sectoral strategies — systems in which wages and working conditions are set across an entire industry in a geographic area rather than at the worksite level — have long been recognized as powerful tools for raising labor standards. They are not replacements for worksite collective bargaining agreements, but they can provide important complements to the same.
States could tailor this model to apply to the sectors that make sense in their local economies, in consultation with impacted workers and their representatives who want the option and opportunity for sectoral bargaining. These laws could apply today to sectors and workers not covered by the National Labor Relations Act. In addition, given the unprecedented attacks on the NLRA, states could pass so-called “trigger laws” that would take effect if the NLRA’s protections don’t apply.
If enacted, this model law would:
- End the race to the bottom over wages and benefits
- Strengthen employer-level bargaining
- Give workers a seat at the table in making the rules that affect their lives
Under the Model Law, workers could petition a State Labor Standards Board for recognition of a bargaining sector. The law then makes it easy for workers to form sectoral unions and empowers workers to negotiate with employers over sector-wide agreements covering wages, benefits, and working conditions, including the use of artificial intelligence and other workplace technology. Once an agreement is complete, every employer in the sector would be bound by it.
Thanks to the working group who helped draft the Model Law, including: Finlay Adamson, Jennifer Abruzzo, Kate Andrias, Chris Bangert-Drowns, Steve Catanese, Larry Cohen, Hiba Hafiz, Sen. Karen Keiser, David Madland, Seema Nanda, Raj Nayak, and Claire Sellers.
READ THE MODEL LEGISLATION
USER GUIDE & FAQ AND MODEL LAW OVERVIEW
Check out our model legislation User Guide and Frequently Asked Questions for answers to questions like:
- What does the State Sectoral Bargaining Act do?
- Why should states consider sectoral bargaining laws?
- How does the State Sectoral Bargaining Act work? What are the key features?