The Assault on Workers Begins

In the aftermath of the November 2010 elections, which saw more than 800 state legislative seats flip from Democrat to Republican-held, the anticipated assault on workers at the state level has begun. CWA is monitoring, and in some cases organizing against, hundreds of anti-worker bills and initiatives in a number of states.

Right to Work. Bills banning or limiting organizing have been filed in Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, Virginia and West Virginia. More measures are expected to be filed in Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Paycheck Deception. Alabama has passed a law outlawing public-employee payroll deduction for union dues unless the union does not use the dues for very broadly described “political activity.”

Other paycheck deception bills are anticipated in 16 states.

Attacks on the public sector. All across the country, we are seeing attacks on public employees – attacks on public employee pay, health care, pensions, contracting out – even on public employees’ right to bargain collectively. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has called for eliminating public sector collective bargaining. Ohio Gov. John Kasich plans to eliminate collective bargaining rights for home health care and child care workers, and plans to outlaw binding arbitration for police officers and firefighters.

Bills attacking collective bargaining rights have been introduced in Colorado, Michigan, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Ballot initiatives that attack labor and the progressive agenda. Republicans have long used ballot initiatives to attack unions. Popular this year are “Save Our Secret Ballot” measures – sort of the opposite of the Employee Free Choice Act. “Save Our Secret Ballot” bills are expected in at least 20 states.