Labor & Employment (Collective Bargaining)

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Aug 25, 2025

SB 976: An Act amending Title 48 (Lodging and Housing) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in hotels, providing for protection of hotel employees; and imposing penalties.

SB 976 requires hotels with 100+ guest rooms in Pennsylvania to provide hotel employees working alone in guest rooms with a safety device (like a two-way radio) at no cost. The bill mandates that hotels must respond immediately when an employee activates the device due to threats of violence, sexual assault, harassment, or other emergencies, and reassign the employee to a safer area without losing pay. Hotels must also protect employees from retaliation for using the device, notify staff about guests who caused incidents, and provide safety education. Violations result in a $5,000 administrative penalty per offense after a warning. This applies to all hotel employers not covered by existing collective bargaining agreements.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires safety devices for hotel employees working alone, mandates immediate emergency response, prohibits retaliation, and ensures no pay loss - directly strengthening workplace safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Employment Discrimination

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 6, 2025

SB 397: An Act amending the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), known as the Public Employe Relations Act, in employee rights, providing for reporting of dues and for annual report; in Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, providing for report availability; and, in collective bargaining agreement, providing for forwarding agreement to board.

SB 397 amends Pennsylvania's Public Employe Relations Act to require public employee unions to report how membership dues are spent. It mandates that unions file quarterly reports with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board detailing officer salaries, benefits, all expenses (including travel), and political spending related to elections. The bill also requires public employers to forward signed collective bargaining agreements to the board within 15 days and directs the board to make all reports and agreements publicly accessible online. These changes directly affect public-sector unions and the Labor Relations Board, increasing transparency around union finances and contract terms. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates transparency in union dues spending and collective bargaining agreements, promoting accountability for workers' funds and aligning with protecting worker rights through financial oversight.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 19, 2025

HB 970: An Act providing for guidelines and procedures governing certain investigations and interrogations of correctional and forensic employees; authorizing certain civil suits by correctional officers; and providing for impact of collective bargaining agreements and for summary suspensions.

HB 970 establishes clear procedures for investigating Pennsylvania correctional and forensic employees (those responsible for inmate or patient care). It requires recorded interrogations, informs employees of their rights (including the right to counsel and protection from polygraph coercion), and prohibits adverse actions for exercising these rights. The bill ensures suspensions during investigations are with pay and benefits unless criminal charges trigger specific rules, and clarifies that union contracts cannot reduce these protections. It directly affects correctional officers and forensic staff employed by the state's Department of Corrections or Department of Human Services. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects correctional employees' rights during investigations (right to counsel, no adverse action), aligning with civil rights protections in corrections system.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires recorded interrogations, right to counsel, prohibits adverse actions for exercising rights, and ensures pay during suspensions. Clarifies collective bargaining agreements remain valid.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 367: An Act providing for employee's right to request a flexible working arrangement; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

HB 367, the Flexible Working Arrangements Act, gives employees in Pennsylvania with employers of 50+ staff the right to request flexible work options like adjusted hours, remote work, or job sharing once yearly. Employers must consider these requests in good faith, respond in writing if requested, and cannot retaliate - though they may deny requests only if they would harm business operations (e.g., cause excessive costs or disrupt service). The Department of Labor and Industry will enforce the law, issuing warnings for first violations and imposing up to $500 per violation for repeat offenses. The bill does not override existing employment rights or collective bargaining agreements.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants employees right to request flexible work, prohibits retaliation, requires employer consideration - directly protects worker rights under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards Paid Leave

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 262: An Act amending the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), known as the Public Employe Relations Act, in employee rights, providing for rights and privileges, for civil actions, for limitation of rights and remedies and for notice.

HB 262 amends Pennsylvania's Public Employe Relations Act to strengthen rights for public-sector union members. It guarantees equal voting rights in unions, prohibits sudden fee increases without member approval (requiring secret ballot votes), and ensures members can pursue legal action or communicate with legislators without union restrictions. The bill also mandates that unions provide all members with copies of collective bargaining agreements upon request. These changes apply to most public employees (excluding police/firefighters under separate law) and take effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentStrengthens public-sector union rights via equal voting, fee vote requirements, legal action access, and transparency in bargaining agreements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 25, 2025

HB 724: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, prohibiting tax deductions for anti-union activities.

HB 724 amends Pennsylvania's tax code to prohibit businesses from deducting expenses related to opposing workers' unionization efforts. It applies to all business entities operating in Pennsylvania - including corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships - that spend money to influence employees against forming or joining labor organizations. The law specifically blocks tax deductions for costs like hiring anti-union consultants, running campaigns against unionization, or other activities aimed at discouraging union membership. This change increases taxable income for businesses engaging in such activities, directly affecting employers in the state who previously deducted these expenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCloses tax loophole by prohibiting deductions for anti-union activities, aligning with 'closes tax loopholes' indicator under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits tax deductions for anti-union activities, making it financially harder for businesses to oppose unionization, thus supporting workers' collective bargaining rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 25, 2025

HB 723: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in tax credit and tax benefit administration, further providing for determination of eligibility and method of submission.

HB 723 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to require state departments to check if applicants for tax credits or benefits have engaged in anti-union activities within the past decade. It directly affects businesses or individuals seeking tax benefits by blocking eligibility if they have: - Faced federal or state unfair labor practice complaints (e.g., under NLRB rules or Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act), - Settled union-related charges without formal complaints, or - Violated court orders or state labor board decisions. The bill adds specific screening steps to the tax credit application process, defining "anti-union activity" through clear legal references. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts tax credit eligibility for anti-union activities, limiting available tax benefits and reducing fiscal support for affected businesses.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBlocks tax benefits for anti-union activities, discouraging employer interference with collective bargaining and strengthening worker rights protections under labor laws.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 28, 2025

SB 361: An Act providing for duties of public employers relating to public employee information.

SB 361 requires public employers in Pennsylvania to provide employee representatives with specific public employee information, including names, contact details, job titles, and salary data. This applies to all public employees (excluding elected officials, management, and certain religious staff) and must be shared electronically every 120 days or within 21 days for new hires. Employee organizations may only use this information for representation purposes, such as collective bargaining, and cannot sell or share it otherwise. The bill aims to improve transparency in labor relations while giving employee groups access to necessary data for their roles.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires public employers to share employee data with representatives for collective bargaining, directly advancing workers' right to organize and negotiate.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 113: An Act providing for guidelines and procedures governing certain investigations and interrogations of correctional and forensic employees; authorizing certain civil suits by correctional officers; and providing for impact of collective bargaining agreements and for summary suspensions.

SB 113 establishes new rules for investigating misconduct by Pennsylvania correctional and forensic employees (e.g., prison staff, forensic facility workers). It requires recorded interrogations, informs employees of their right to legal counsel, prohibits using polygraph tests or threatening job loss to compel statements, and mandates paid suspensions during investigations unless criminal charges are filed. The bill ensures union contracts cannot weaken these protections and prohibits retaliation against employees exercising these rights. It also clarifies that investigations must follow specific procedures to protect employee rights during disciplinary processes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes procedural safeguards for correctional staff during investigations, protecting rights and preventing retaliation, aligning with corrections reform.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects correctional employees' rights during investigations: requires recorded interrogations, right to counsel, paid suspensions, prohibits retaliation, and ensures union contracts cannot weaken protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 9, 2025

SB 587: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in tax credit and tax benefit administration, further providing for determination of eligibility and method of submission.

SB 587 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to require that applicants for tax credits or benefits must not have committed "anti-union activity" in the past 10 years. The bill directly affects businesses or individuals seeking state tax credits by adding a new eligibility check. Key provisions define "anti-union activity" to include recent National Labor Relations Board complaints, settlements related to labor violations, or breaches of Pennsylvania's Labor Relations Act. Tax authorities must verify this eligibility before awarding credits, with specific examples provided in the bill. This change takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill disqualifies tax credit applicants with 'anti-union activity', directly protecting workers' rights and collective bargaining by penalizing anti-union conduct.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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