Rokita Applauds Rubio's Introduction of Senate Version of RAISE Act
Press Release
U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita (IN-4) today applauded U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-FL) introduction of the Senate version of the RAISE Act, which Rokita introduced in the House last week.
"I'm glad to be working alongside Senator Rubio on this strong pro-worker bill," said Rokita. "The RAISE Act would allow millions of American employees to earn the raises they deserve for their hard work -- something the unelected NLRB has so far prevented them from doing."
The RAISE Act has gained national coverage and editorial support, and Rokita wrote an op-ed last week in the Washington Examiner about the bill. The House version of the bill has so far drawn 32 cosponsors, and U.S. Sens. Jim DeMint (R-SC), Mike Lee (R-UT) and David Vitter (R-LA) are original co-sponsors of the Senate version.
The bill would amend the National Labor Relations Act to reform the collective bargaining process and allow employers to give merit-based bonuses, raises, or other increases to an individual employee above the level set by the employee's union contract.
The National Labor Relations Board has repeatedly ruled that individual bonuses constitute "direct dealing," which is illegal under collective bargaining law, and the NLRB has the power to strike down pay increases not negotiated by unions.
Although the RAISE Act would not alter existing contracts, it would protect employees' ability to earn pay raises under future contracts. Federal law prevents discriminatory treatment of employees based on union membership, and the RAISE Act would ensure that both unionized and non-union workers have an equal shot at getting pay raises.
According to the Heritage Foundation, economic research shows that the average worker's earnings rise between six and ten percent when they are eligible for performance-based pay. Allowing union members to earn such performance pay would mean significant raises -- between $2,700 and $4,600 a year for the typical private sector union member.
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