https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/ban-anti-worker-noncompete-clauses-now
Why is this important?
Between 30 and 60 million Americans work in jobs where they are forced to sign “noncompetes”—clauses in their contract that limit where they can work if they leave or are let go from their employment.[1]
This compels many workers to stay in jobs despite low wages, limited benefits, abusive management, coercive scheduling or other poor working conditions for fear they could not take their skills to new employment. It deprives them of the ability to seek exiting and remunerative opportunities for fear their employers will bring legal action against them. And it limits their ability for entrepreneurial pursuits such as leaving to start their own businesses.
Fortunately, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under the leadership of Biden appointee Lina Khan, a fierce advocate for workers and consumers, is issuing a new rule to bar noncompetes from most contracts.
Large lobbyists representing the most powerful corporations are sure to try to vilify and strike down this rule before it is enforced—which is why we need to support it during the “public comment” period now,.
As Chair Khan said, “The freedom to change jobs is core to economic liberty and to a competitive, thriving economy … Noncompetes block workers from freely switching jobs, depriving them of higher wages and better working conditions, and depriving businesses of a talent pool that they need to build and expand.” [2]
She's right. It is imperative our government act to balance the playing field rather than giving corporations all the power over workers and consumers.
We need the FTC to act and for members of Congress to back up the FTC's efforts.
Under the Biden Administration, the FTC has shown it is willing to pick big, important fights. We need to show the public will be with them on this fight and other fights to come. Especially as Congress seems destined for two years of Republican dysfunction and obstruction, it's more important than ever that President Biden's agencies are empowered to govern in ways that serve us all.