CWA: DOL Rules Will Stop Abuse of Workers by Federal Contractors

Washington, D.C. -- Statement by the Communications Workers of America on the Department of Labor’s final regulations implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order:

The Communications Workers of America commends the Department of Labor for looking out for the millions of working Americans who have seen their workplace rights abused by contractors doing business with the federal government.

The regulations and guidelines issued today make federal contractors responsible for following the law, ending the advantage that some unscrupulous employers have gained by illegally cutting corners at the expense of working people.

The new rule, when fully in place, will require prospective contractors that want to do business with the federal government to disclose violations of basic workplace protections, including wage and hour laws, workers’ bargaining rights, and family and medical leave that occurred over the previous three years.

That means a company like T-Mobile US, which has been found guilty by a National Labor Relations Board judge of violating workers’ rights would be forced to disclose those violations, affecting its ability to win federal contracts.