STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1751

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.C.R. No. 164

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Tourism, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 164, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. BIDEN TO ENACT THE PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the United States Senate and President of the United States to enact the Protecting the Right to Organize Act as expeditiously as possible.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Honolulu City Council; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Rainbow Family 808; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 50; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260; International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local #1 of Hawaii; Plumbers and Fitters United Association, Local 675; LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Pride at Work – Hawaii; International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 142; Hawaii Building & Construction Trades Council; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; Hawaii State AFL-CIO; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Associated Builders and Contractors, Hawaii Chapter.

Your Committee finds that unionized workers earn over thirteen percent more than comparable nonunionized workers, receive fairer wages and better benefits, and generally have better working conditions. Your Committee further finds that the Protecting the Right to Organize Act enhances workers' rights by providing greater opportunity to unite and bargain meaningfully for fairer wages and benefits, and thus, has the potential to raise workers' living standards.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending its title to read, "URGING THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENACT THE PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE ACT AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE.";

(2) Inserting references where appropriate to the Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021, passed by the United States House of Representatives as House Resolution 842 on March 9, 2021; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 164, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 164, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Tourism,

____________________________

RICHARD H.K. ONISHI, Chair