Gallego Backs Bills to Promote Worker Safety and Rights During the Holiday Season

WASHINGTON –Ahead of the holiday season,Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)backed two bills to protect workers’ safety and right to organize.
Tomorrow, Senator Gallego will join union Starbucks baristasat the picket linein Gilbert, Arizona in solidarity with their ongoing strike against Starbucks’ union busting and the company’s failure to finalize a first union contract with its employees.
The bipartisanWarehouse Worker Protection Actwould protect nearly 2 million of our nations’ warehouse workers by banning hazardous work speed quotas that push workers beyond their limits and lead to high rates of injuries.
“This holiday season, more than thirty thousand Arizona warehouse workers are working long hours to keep shelves stocked and make sure gifts arrive on time. Many are risking injuries, skipping bathroom breaks, and jeopardizing their health to meet impossible speed quotas. Everyone deserves to be safe at work,”said Senator Gallego.“The Warehouse Worker Protection Act would protect the basic health and dignity of workers from corporate employers who put profits above their staff. I’m proud to support this bill and fight for workers’ rights and safety.”
TheEmpowering Striking Workers Actwould allow striking and locked out workers to be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.
“No one should have to choose between standing up for themselves and putting food on the table, especially around the holidays, when so many families are already stretched thin. But in most states, workers can’t collect unemployment if they go on strike, which leaves many working-class Arizonans forced into accepting bad contracts just so they can feed their families,”said Senator Gallego.“This bill would fix that by making sure striking workers can get unemployment benefits while they fight for the fair pay and working conditions they deserve.”
Senator Gallego has continuously stood up for workers and organized labor. During his first year in the Senate, he:
12/11/25