WAGE Act

Workplace Action for a Growing Economy Act or the WAGE Act

This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to

• require the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to award back pay and additional damages to any employee whose rights under the NLRA have been violated by an employer;
• impose penalties upon an employer for failing to post a notice of the rights of their employees under the NLRA;
• impose penalties upon an employer whose violations of the NLRA result in the discharge of an employee or other serious economic harm to the employee;
• provide civil remedies, including restraining orders, and a private right of action for violations of the NLRA;
• require the NLRB to issue an order requiring collective bargaining when a majority of valid ballots have been cast in favor of union representation;
• prevent the classification of employees as supervisors for the purpose of denying such employees the protections of the NLRA; and
• expedite the establishment of initial collective bargaining agreements.

The bill empowers the NLRB to enforce its own orders without petitioning a court for enforcement.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov