In a significant judicial victory, a judge in Wisconsin state court threw out a 2011 state law that had deprived public workers of the right to collective bargaining. The law, pushed through the legislature by the anti-labor governor at the time, Scott Walker, was enacted after Republicans won control the executive and legislative branches of the state government in 2010.
But, in a brazen political move, the law exempted police and firefighters unions, two unions that were supporters of Walker and Republicans. The law caused an uproar across the state at the time as thousands of workers turned out at the capital to protest it.
Judge Jacob Frost of Dane County Circuit Court ruled Dec. 2 that this selective choice of workers who get collective bargaining rights was a violation of the state constitution.
While former Gov. Walker condemned the decision of Judge Frost, the present governor, Tony Evers, hailed it as “great news for Wisconsin workers.” And Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale declared that “restoring union freedoms to Wisconsin workers will strengthen Wisconsin’s middle class, lift up the voices of workers and lead to better public services for our communities.”
https://www.spotlightonlabor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/icon.png500500Paul Beckerhttps://www.spotlightonlabor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/spotlight_logo_.pngPaul Becker2024-12-09 10:45:252024-12-10 13:48:03WISCONSIN JUDGE NIXES LAW THAT LIMITED UNION RIGHTS
Since 2021, the year President Biden took office, the number of union election petitions filed with the National Labor Relations Board has skyrocketed, the board recently reported. In the last year alone, the requests have jumped 29 percent from nearly 2,600 to nearly 3,600. Under the law, if 30 percent of the workers in a workplace sign union authorization cards, the NLRB is charged with reviewing the petitions and conducting an election. And if a majority of the workers select a union, the employer must bargain in good faith with that union.
The big jump in union election filings reflects the labor-friendly policies of the Biden administration and the presidential appointments to the NLRB that has changed the board’s policies.
Over the years, however, Republican appointees to the board have disproportionately been corporate-friendly lawyers, or even those advising companies on how to avoid unionization. This has severely weakened the ability of unions to get the board to enforce the law. Many unions have avoided the NLRB altogether.
The change in NLRB policies has created one big problem – a shortage of personnel to handle the huge caseload of approving petitions and supervising elections. The board pointed to the fact that when it faced a similar situation back in 2011 during the Obama administration, it had 62 percent more field staff. Cuts during the Trump years have since made the situation difficult.
https://www.spotlightonlabor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/icon.png500500Paul Beckerhttps://www.spotlightonlabor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/spotlight_logo_.pngPaul Becker2024-10-24 17:59:592024-10-24 18:02:25NLRB REPORTS BIG SURGE IN UNION ELECTION FILINGS
After striking for just a few days, dock workers at Atlantic and Gulf ports suspended their strike action until the end of the year unless negotiations between their union, the International Longshoreman’s Association, and the US Maritime Alliance, representing the shipping industry, reach a contract by then. (See item on Labor News page of this website.) ILA members have been working under a six-year contract that expired Sept 30. During that time they have seen their real income deteriorate during the pandemic when many ports could not operate. The workers unload cargo from ships docked in the ports They are seeking substantial pay increases to make up for their losses and protection from automation severely cutting into their jobs.
WISCONSIN JUDGE NIXES LAW THAT LIMITED UNION RIGHTS
Labor BriefsIn a significant judicial victory, a judge in Wisconsin state court threw out a 2011 state law that had deprived public workers of the right to collective bargaining. The law, pushed through the legislature by the anti-labor governor at the time, Scott Walker, was enacted after Republicans won control the executive and legislative branches of the state government in 2010.
But, in a brazen political move, the law exempted police and firefighters unions, two unions that were supporters of Walker and Republicans. The law caused an uproar across the state at the time as thousands of workers turned out at the capital to protest it.
Judge Jacob Frost of Dane County Circuit Court ruled Dec. 2 that this selective choice of workers who get collective bargaining rights was a violation of the state constitution.
While former Gov. Walker condemned the decision of Judge Frost, the present governor, Tony Evers, hailed it as “great news for Wisconsin workers.” And Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale declared that “restoring union freedoms to Wisconsin workers will strengthen Wisconsin’s middle class, lift up the voices of workers and lead to better public services for our communities.”
The decision is certain to be appealed.
NY Times, 12/2
NLRB REPORTS BIG SURGE IN UNION ELECTION FILINGS
Labor BriefsSince 2021, the year President Biden took office, the number of union election petitions filed with the National Labor Relations Board has skyrocketed, the board recently reported. In the last year alone, the requests have jumped 29 percent from nearly 2,600 to nearly 3,600. Under the law, if 30 percent of the workers in a workplace sign union authorization cards, the NLRB is charged with reviewing the petitions and conducting an election. And if a majority of the workers select a union, the employer must bargain in good faith with that union.
The big jump in union election filings reflects the labor-friendly policies of the Biden administration and the presidential appointments to the NLRB that has changed the board’s policies.
Over the years, however, Republican appointees to the board have disproportionately been corporate-friendly lawyers, or even those advising companies on how to avoid unionization. This has severely weakened the ability of unions to get the board to enforce the law. Many unions have avoided the NLRB altogether.
The change in NLRB policies has created one big problem – a shortage of personnel to handle the huge caseload of approving petitions and supervising elections. The board pointed to the fact that when it faced a similar situation back in 2011 during the Obama administration, it had 62 percent more field staff. Cuts during the Trump years have since made the situation difficult.
Huffpost, 10/15
OCTOBER BITS AND PIECES
Labor Briefs, miscDOCK WORKERS SUSPEND STRIKE
After striking for just a few days, dock workers at Atlantic and Gulf ports suspended their strike action until the end of the year unless negotiations between their union, the International Longshoreman’s Association, and the US Maritime Alliance, representing the shipping industry, reach a contract by then. (See item on Labor News page of this website.) ILA members have been working under a six-year contract that expired Sept 30. During that time they have seen their real income deteriorate during the pandemic when many ports could not operate. The workers unload cargo from ships docked in the ports They are seeking substantial pay increases to make up for their losses and protection from automation severely cutting into their jobs.