Cecile Conroy, Director of Government Affairs, gave an update on legislative issues impacting Boilermakers, the industries in which Boilermakers work and the labor movement. Big topics included the Protect the Right to Organize Act, the Protect America’s Workforce Act, measures in the Tax Reconciliation Bill and tariffs.
Conroy explained that while the Protect the Right to Work Act was reintroduced in early March as fully comprehensive labor law, it will be an uphill battle to see action, let alone realize positive movement.
“I doubt we’ll see any movement soon,” she said. “But the Boilermakers, along with other affiliates in the AFL-CIO, keep banging the drum on this.”
More likely to see action is what Conroy described as a “very slimmed down labor bill” introduced by Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley. While not as robust as the PRO Act, the bill focuses on faster labor contracts, making first contracts more efficient so they aren’t dragged out for years.
Of special importance to Boilermakers working in federal shipyards and in areas under government contract, an executive order earlier this year eliminated federal workers’ rights to collective bargaining under the guise that collective bargaining in the federal sector poses a “security threat.” Conroy said some agencies have already cancelled contracts with unions as a result. This directly impacts 850 dues paying Boilermaker members.
To combat the executive order and restore federal workers’ bargaining rights, on July 17, the Protect America’s Workforce Act was introduced in Congress as a discharge position. Unlike traditional bills, Conroy explained, discharge positions can go directly to the floor rather than through committee—but Representatives must be physically present to go to the congressional clerk to sign their name to the petition. If a majority of signatures is achieved, the bill is automatically passed in the House of Representatives and moves on to the Senate. With 218 signatures needed, the measure was only nine signatures shy when congress was abruptly recessed in July. Congress will return after Labor Day, and many trades are promoting efforts to spur representatives to add their signatures upon return.
Conroy also addressed some areas of the Tax Reconciliation Act signed on July 4 and dispelled some myths. She noted that the full measure increases the federal deficit. Many energy initiatives introduced by the previous administration through the Inflation Reduction Act are either axed or scaled back. She pointed to the 45V hydrogen tax credit, which the Tax Reconciliation Act dramatically called back and handcuffed with unrealistic project timeline stipulations. Wind and solar tax credits 45Y and clean energy credit 48E were also cut down. However, 45Q’s carbon capture use and storage credit was actually bumped up from $60/ton to $85/ton; and direct air capture was increased from $130/ton to $160/ton.
Conroy noted that the “no tax on tips and overtime” component of the bill, while positive for many, expires in 2028 and is subject to regulations from the Internal Revenue Service.
“Buyer beware, as there will be many regulations and restrictions soon on how ‘no tax’ will apply both to times and overtime when filing taxes. There are no free lunches here,” she said. “Tax accountants are going to be really busy next year.”
Regarding tariffs, Conroy pointed out that the labor movement has never been opposed to tariffs and supports using them on behalf of policies like the CHIPS Act to attract industrial manufacturing to the United States. However, she said, that is not the kind of tariff in play with the current administration. She reminded everyone that countries don’t pay the tariffs—companies and consumers do.