Workers in Charge: Restoring Choice and Accountability in the Workplace

The House Committee on Education & Workforce held a field hearing in Charlotte, North Carolina, on November 14, 2026, titled “Workers in Charge: Restoring Choice and Accountability in the Workplace.” Members and witnesses debated worker choice and union accountability, including secret-ballot elections, contract ratification and strike votes, right-to-work laws, and the National Labor Relations Board’s election and representation rules. Republican members and witnesses supported voluntary unionism and changes to NLRB practices; the Democratic member argued for stronger collective-bargaining protections and support for legislation including the PRO Act and Faster Labor Contracts Act (HR 5408). Witnesses raised concerns about binding first-contract arbitration and shifting labor-law standards, while also discussing proposed reforms such as the Ask the Union Members Act (HR 6142). The committee took no votes on legislation or spending in the portion provided; no procurement activity, contract awards, or budget allocations were identified.