HR5054-119

What This Bill Does

The Freedom From Union Violence Act rewrites the Hobbs Act section on interference with commerce by robbery, extortion, threats, or violence. It keeps a federal prohibition for conduct affecting commerce through robbery, extortion, conspiracy, attempts, or physical violence and sets a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine, 20 years imprisonment, or both. The new text defines commerce, extortion, labor dispute, and robbery. It creates a limited carveout for conduct incidental to otherwise peaceful picketing during a labor dispute when it consists solely of minor bodily injury, minor property damage, or threats or fear of such minor harm, and is not part of a pattern or coordinated violent activity; those violations are left to state and local prosecution. The bill also says it does not change the Clayton Act, Norris-LaGuardia Act, National Labor Relations Act, or Railway Labor Act, and it does not bar federal jurisdiction simply because the conduct occurred during a labor dispute or also violates state law.

Who Benefits and How

Businesses affected by strike violence benefit because federal Hobbs Act jurisdiction remains available for serious robbery, extortion, threats, or violent conduct affecting commerce. Workers opposing coercive violence benefit from clearer federal penalties when labor-dispute conduct becomes robbery, extortion, or coordinated violence. Peaceful labor picketers benefit from the carveout for otherwise peaceful picketing involving only minor, non-pattern conduct. State prosecutors benefit because minor incidental picketing-related violations are reserved for state or local authorities.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Labor organizations with violent conduct face greater federal prosecution risk when conduct affects commerce and is not protected minor picketing. Federal criminal prosecutors must distinguish serious Hobbs Act conduct from the minor-picketing carveout. Union strike organizers must account for the risk that coordinated violence or threats can trigger federal jurisdiction. Federal courts must apply the rewritten definitions and carveout in labor-dispute prosecutions.

Key Provisions

• Amends 18 U.S.C. 1951 to cover robbery, extortion, attempts, conspiracies, threats, and physical violence affecting commerce.
• Provides penalties up to a $100,000 fine, 20 years imprisonment, or both.
• Adds definitions for commerce, extortion, labor dispute, and robbery.
• Provides a narrow carveout for otherwise peaceful picketing involving only minor, non-pattern injury or property damage.
• Protects federal jurisdiction for serious conduct during labor disputes and preserves existing labor statutes.