Freedom From Union Violence Act of 2005

The Freedom From Union Violence Act of 2005 (S. 618) sought to amend the Hobbs Act to make it a federal crime to use violence, extortion, or threats of physical harm to interfere with interstate commerce during labor disputes. Under this bill, individuals convicted of such acts could face fines up to $100,000 and imprisonment for up to 20 years.

The legislation specifically excluded minor incidents, such as small-scale property damage or minor injuries occurring during otherwise peaceful picketing, leaving the prosecution of those smaller offenses to state and local authorities. For citizens and workers, the bill aimed to establish federal oversight and stricter penalties for organized or pattern-based violence used as a tactic in labor negotiations.