Every week at All Saints Church we put our faith into action. This Sunday’s action is in support of the Federal Trade Commission’s rule to ban noncompete clauses which hurt workers and give excessive power to big corporations.

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 exciting 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. Now, we have to come together and show public support for this new rule, which would deliver a huge win for workers.

Large lobbyists representing the most powerful corporations are sure to vilify and try to strike down this rule before it is enforced—which is why we need to support it during the “public comment” period now.

As FTC Chair Lina M. Khan has 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.

Sources:

1. “Noncompete agreements,” Economic Policy Institute, December 10, 2019
   https://act.moveon.org/go/170193?t=6&akid=342365%2E1359012%2EdNvnfu

2. “FTC unveils proposal to ban noncompete clauses,” The Hill, January 5, 2023
   https://act.moveon.org/go/170194?t=8&akid=342365%2E1359012%2EdNvnfu

Options to Take Action:

1. Sign on to a letter supporting a Ban on Non-Compete Clauses at the Action Table.
2. Use this link to send a comment to the Federal Trade Commission .NOTE: IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY A NON-COMPETE CLAUSE, THE FTC IS INTERESTED TO HEAR IT. PLEASE USE THE ABOVE LINK TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION.

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