IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 452 
Recognizing the importance labor unions play in ensuring a strong middle 
class by advocating for more equitable wages, humane work conditions, 
improved benefits, and increased civic engagement by everyday workers. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 1, 2011 
Mr. PAYNE (for himself, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. BISHOP of 
New York, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. 
HOLT, Ms. BASS of California, Mr. FARR, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, 
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. 
NADLER, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. RUSH, Mr. MCDERMOTT, 
Ms. RICHARDSON, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. MORAN, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. MOORE, 
Mr. LEVIN, Mr. HONDA, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. ROTHMAN of 
New Jersey, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. BRADY of Pennsyl-
vania, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. BACA, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. 
DOYLE, Mr. FILNER, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. VISCLOSKY, 
Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New 
York, Mr. SHERMAN, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. SIRES, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. 
MILLER of North Carolina, Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas, Mr. CAPUANO, 
Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. JOHN-
SON of Georgia, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. BECERRA, 
Mr. CARNEY, Mr. HIGGINS, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. MURPHY of 
Connecticut, Mr. ELLISON, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Ms. LEE of Cali-
fornia, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. NORTON, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. MATSUI, 
Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. COHEN, Mr. LYNCH, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mrs. NAPOLI-
TANO, Mr. KIND, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. CRITZ, Ms. LINDA T. SA´NCHEZ of 
California, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mrs. 
CHRISTENSEN, Mr. CLARKE of Michigan, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. KILDEE, 
Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. 
STARK, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. PALLONE, 
Mr. RICHMOND, Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. EDWARDS, Mr. ISRAEL, Ms. 
DELAURO, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Ms. SUTTON, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. VAN 
HOLLEN, and Mr. PETERS) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
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•HRES 452 IH 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the importance labor unions play in ensuring 
a strong middle class by advocating for more equitable 
wages, humane work conditions, improved benefits, and 
increased civic engagement by everyday workers. 
Whereas labor unions make the middle class strong by ensur-
ing workers have a voice in both the market and in the 
Nation’s democracy; 
Whereas, if unionization rates increased by 10 percentage 
points, the typical middle class household would earn 
$1,479 more this year, according to a study by the Cen-
ter for American Progress; 
Whereas studies have found in areas with higher unionization 
rates there also is greater civic engagement; 
Whereas unions raise the hourly wages of union workers by 
an average of 15 percent, according to a study by the 
Center for Economic and Policy Research, and members 
are much more likely to receive benefits; 
Whereas unions benefit even non-union workers—particularly 
in highly unionized industries—by setting a high-stand-
ard for benefits and wages that other employers must 
meet; 
Whereas unions build career ladders to the middle class by 
increasing workers’ access to career advancement through 
training; 
Whereas unions and their benefits are an especially critical 
component in the economic mobility of women and com-
munities of color; 
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•HRES 452 IH 
Whereas unions advance government policies that support the 
middle class, including the creation of the social safety 
net with programs such as Social Security and Medicare; 
Whereas, throughout the middle part of the 20th century, 
when unions were stronger, unions helped build the mid-
dle class by ensuring that American workers were re-
warded for their increased productivity with higher 
wages; 
Whereas today unions continue to fight for laws that support 
the middle class such as minimum wage laws and the Pa-
tient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, which 
ensures that all Americans will have access to health in-
surance; and 
Whereas the countries with the strongest middle class all 
have strong union movements: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog-
nizes the importance labor unions play in ensuring a 
strong middle class by advocating for more equitable 
wages, humane work conditions, improved benefits, and 
increased civic engagement by everyday workers. 
Æ 
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