State Senate to quickly take up right-to-work legislation (X-posted from LBN)

State Senate to quickly take up right-to-work legislation
Source: Milw Journal Sentinel


http://media.jrn.com/images/660*412/b99402895z.1_20141204121227_000_gmo90dov.1-1.jpg


State Senate to quickly take up right-to-work legislation

By Jason Stein of the Journal Sentinel
Updated: 12:13 p.m.





Madison —......

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) told conservative talk radio host Charlie Sykes of WTMJ-AM (620) that he was considering so-called "open shop" legislation to prohibit employers from striking deals with private-sector unions to require workers to pay dues. He said he was considering making Wisconsin the first state in the nation to attempt to exempt certain private workers such as the operators of earthmovers who have supported Wisconsin Republicans in recent years.

It was a complete shift from the general election rhetoric of Republicans in recent months who have said that the issue is a distraction and not a priority......



Gov. Scott Walker and GOP lawmakers already banned such requirements for most public employees in Wisconsin, but their 2011 law known as Act 10 didn't affect private-sector unions or police and firefighters. Tens of thousands of workers protested for weeks and Walker later became the first governor in the nation to win a recall election because of it.



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One key impediment to passing legislation to weaken union power has been the support Republicans have received from police and firefighter unions in Milwaukee and from a few private-sector unions like the International Union of Operating Engineers, whose members operate the heavy equipment used to build roads and other infrastructure.

In Act 10, Walker explicitly exempted local and most state police and firefighters.

Thursday, Fitzgerald said Republicans could do the same for labor groups such as the operating engineers and some other trade unions such as pipe fitters. Rather than their support for GOP lawmakers, Fitzgerald cited the training that these unions do for workers and employers as a reason for exempting them.
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Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/state-senate-to-quickly-take-up-right-to-work-legislation-b99402895z1-284760711.html


I am just livid!! The Republicans want to do more of the 'divide and conquer" tactic in Wisconsin.

For those of you who do not follow Wisconsin politics--the Republicans want to exempt certain private unions from their Right to work Bill--such as the road builders which are Gov Walkers and Republicans biggest donors!! damn!!