The Biggest Threat To Unions In The Midterms

By David Sirota, The Lever

If Republican Doug Mastriano wins the increasingly competitive Pennsylvania governor’s race next month, passage of aggressive anti-union legislation targeting private and public sector unions is virtually guaranteed.

Mastriano, a state senator who is facing Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro in the November 8 election, is well-known for his Christian nationalism, his role in the January 6 assault on the Capitol, and his dalliances with neo-Nazis. Less covered this election cycle is that Mastriano and his GOP allies are preparing an unprecedented attack on the labor movement in Pennsylvania, via so-called “right-to-work” legislation.

In April, when Mastriano was asked if he supported making Pennsylvania a “right-to-work” state, he said, “Clearly I’m a supporter of that. And I can actively use my network across the state to pressure my colleagues in the General Assembly to get it done.”

In the state Senate, Mastriano has consistently pushed back against the interests of workers. Last year, he co-sponsored legislation that would have gutted Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage law, which ensures that public projects do not undercut wages in the construction industry. He was also one of just seven members of the state Senate to vote against raising the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour in November 2019.