Artist Rights Alliance, Open Markets, AFL-CIO, and Over 60 Signatories Demand the FTC Ban Worker Non-Compete Clauses

The Artist Rights Alliance today joined with Open Markets Institute, the AFL-CIO, and over 60 other signatories — including labor organizations, public interest groups, and legal scholars — in formally petitioning the Federal Trade Commission to ban worker non-compete clauses.

Non-competes impact workers in a variety of industries and vocations, ranging from working musicians to camp counselors, engineers to fast food workers, hair stylists and physicians alike.

The Artist Rights Alliance released the following statement:

“Working musicians might not sit in cubicles from 9–5. But some of the non-competes that artists are required to sign are unduly and unfairly limiting.

“There are the music festivals with breathtakingly expansive restrictions on other work. There are even restrictions on bar bands that require that local artists sign away opportunities for gigs at competing bars — sometimes even applicable if any of those musicians are playing in a different band or performing in a different genre to an entirely different audience.

“And given how wide this issue is felt across the economy — we are proud to stand in solidarity with the hardworking Americans from all professions — as we ask the FTC to take action.”

Employers across a range of industries require workers to accept a non-compete clause as a condition of employment. These unjust contracts deprive tens of millions of workers of the freedom to accept a job, take new opportunities, or to start a business in the same line of work or industry after they leave their current job. Non-competes can compel workers to stay in discriminatory or hostile work environments without the option to take their skills elsewhere.

More information on this issue, including the FTC filing as well as the list of groups demanding action — can be found here.