A proposed bill in the Texas state legislature would prohibit unions from taking in members under the age of 18 without parental consent.
Texas Senate Bill 75 would prohibit unions from accepting anyone as a member who is under the age of 18 without a signed consent form from the minor’s parents or guardian.
Sen. Jane Nelson, a former teacher, pre-filed a series of bills last month, many of which pertained to the safety of children. SB 75 is meant to protect children from, “entering into a contract that they may not fully understand,” according to a statement released by Nelson’s office.
“The law in Texas already recognizes that minors are not fully equipped to enter into binding contracts on their own. This bill gives parents a voice in their children’s decision whether to join a union in exchange for a portion of their earnings,” Nelson asserted.
“SB 75 will ensure that parents are involved in their minor child’s decision about union membership,” he said. Along with protecting children, Nelson argued that the bill, “protects parental rights by requiring consent before a minor may join a union.”
If the bill passes, children as young as 14 will be able to enter into an employment agreement without parental consent (in most cases), but will not be permitted to join a union without signed parental consent, according to In These Times.
Texas, a longtime right-to-work state, allows workers who are represented by a union to choose whether or not to pay dues. The bill will be formally discussed once the next legislative session kicks off Jan. 10.
Send Tips to ted@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.