As Trump and Musk roll back workers’ rights, Minority Leader Brooks’s legislation establishes stronger local protections for Philadelphia workers.
PHILADELPHIA – As an anti-worker Trump administration rolls back worker protections nationally and DOGE dismantles the federal Department of Labor, City Council is poised to strengthen local worker protections and Philadelphia’s Department of Labor with new pro-worker legislation. Introduced by Councilmember Kendra Brooks (At-Large), the POWER (Protect Our Workers, Enforce Rights) Act establishes the necessary legal tools for Philadelphia’s Department of Labor (DoL) to enforce local labor laws, such as the wage theft and paid sick leave ordinances, and to hold abusive employers accountable for retaliating against workers who assert their rights.
“The POWER Act is our chance to take a stand against Trump’s anti-worker agenda with stronger laws to protect workers here in Philly,” said Councilmember Kendra Brooks (At-Large). “No one in Philadelphia should fear termination, deportation, or other forms of retaliation for speaking out about their legal rights on the job.”
The POWER Act offers sweeping protections for all workers in Philadelphia. It will:
- allow workers to receive direct financial compensation for the damages they have suffered because of retaliation and other violations;
- establish a process for the DoL to certify immigration protections, critical for undocumented workers;
- update the standards for a public “bad actors database” for employers who have committed multiple labor law violations;
- authorize the DoL to conduct “wall-to-wall” investigations of entire workplaces and to initiate independent investigations into workplaces.
“I’ve worked cleaning houses for 5 years and at a restaurant at night. I’ve had some bad experiences, such as not having time to eat or rest during the workday and wage theft in the past,” said Jorge Ruiz, a member and leader of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA)- PA Chapter. “This law will support workers’ rights, including those against wage theft, because employers will be forced to pay for the damages workers suffer as a result of this theft. If this law had existed in the past, when I suffered wage theft, I would have had tools to protect myself and hold employers accountable.”
“On behalf of the over 150,000 workers and over 110 different unions I represent, I am here today to make it clear that the Philadelphia Labor Movement is a movement for all workers,” said Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO President Daniel P. Bauder. “Passing the POWER Act is one step closer to making Philadelphia into not just a union town, but a worker town.”
“This moment is about honoring the courage of workers, many of them Black, immigrant, and women, who have organized for years to make Philadelphia a city that truly values its workforce,” said Jenn Stowe, Executive Director of NDWA. “The POWER Act was born out of the continued retaliation faced not only by domestic workers, but by workers across vulnerable sectors. In 2020, domestic workers in Philadelphia won one of the most comprehensive Bills of Rights in the country. But without enforcement, those rights have remained out of reach for too many. This bill creates a path forward to ensure those rights are real. Thanks to the tireless efforts of domestic workers, organizers, and other vulnerable workforces, the POWER Act is now on the floor. Philadelphia has the opportunity to lead once again and set the tone for how cities across the country can protect workers with dignity, respect, and justice at the center.”
“This bill is long overdue,” said Councilmember Jim Harrity (At-Large), Chair of City Council’s Labor and Civil Service Committee and a co-sponsor of the POWER Act. “Domestic workers deserve the same fair labor standards, protections, and benefits as any other worker in our city. They should be free to address labor violations without fear of retaliation. I look forward to continuing my support.”
The POWER Act is supported by local pro-worker organizations including the Philadelphia AFL-CIO, the Philly Black Worker Project, and El Comité de Trabajadorxs, as well as national organizations including the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and SEIU 32BJ. The legislation is co-sponsored by a veto-proof majority of City Councilmembers, including Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District). If voted favorably out of the Committee on Law and Government this Friday, it will proceed to a final passage vote in City Council as soon as May 8th.
The introduction of the POWER Act follows ten years of steady progress by labor unions and pro-worker Councilmembers to establish protections for Philadelphia’s blue collar workers. In 2020, City Council voted to establish a permanent Department of Labor in order to house education and enforcement efforts for a growing list of groundbreaking labor laws including Wage Theft, Fair Workweek, and Paid Sick Leave ordinances. Since then, many workers have faced retaliation from employers when they report violations of these laws.
In addition to the POWER Act, advocates are calling for an additional $3.5M in funding for the Department of Labor, responsible for enforcing Philadelphia labor laws. The Office of Worker Protections, housed within the City’s Department of Labor (DoL), serves over 740,000 workers but lacks the capacity to effectively enforce labor laws, prevent retaliation against workers, and recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen wages.
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