All Around

Behind collective bargaining debate, mixed experiences in the states
Indiana took away collective bargaining rights for state workers in 2005. Washington State added them in 2002. What difference does collective bargaining really make?

US: Obama sits out state fights
President Barack Obama, after initially lending his support to organized labor, has stepped back from the fights spreading in state capitals from Wisconsin to Tennessee, leaving union officials divided about his tactics.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Assembly Reaches Deal To End Debate, Vote On Anti-Union Bill MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Democrats in the state Assembly agreed to a deal in the pre-dawn hours Thursday to limit debate and reach a vote, perhaps by midday, on a bill taking away public workers' collective bargaining rights. Republican leadership in the Senate meanwhile dispatched police officers to the homes of some of the 14 Democratic lawmakers who have been on the run for a week to avoid voting on the proposal, to compel them to return.

Assembly debates budget fix through the night

Debate grinds on in the state Assembly early Wednesday morning on Gov. Scott Walker's plan to fix the state budget and end most of the union bargaining rights held by public workers for decades.

USW President and Steelworkers Offer Their Support in Madison State House United Steelworkers (USW) President Leo W. Gerard addressed the people rallying for worker bargaining rights in Madison, WI. He gave the support of all Steelworkers to the fight facing workers in the state. "Not only is America watching," said Gerard, "the whole world is watching."

Indiana

IN: GOP retreats on Indiana labor law
The speaker of Indiana's House of Representatives said he and Republican colleagues were dropping a controversial labor bill that caused Democratic representatives to flee to Illinois. But Democratic lawmakers said they were not returning to Indiana for now.

Indiana Republicans Table "Right to Work" Bill
Democratic legislators in Indiana, mirroring their Wisconsin counterparts' desperation, fled the state and its police jurisdiction Tuesday in order to deny Republican lawmakers the quorum necessary to proceed on a "right to work" bill, legislation that

IN Chamber Still Supports "Right to Work" Laws
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is disappointed the proposed Right to Work legislation is dead. On Monday, a House committee approved to move the Right to Work bill forward to the entire House. However, all committee reports were due by Tuesday. ...

Indiana kills 'right-to-work' bill - Jennifer Epstein - POLITICO.com
Republicans in Indiana's state senate on Wednesday killed a proposed “right-to- work” bill that would have reduced the power of unions in the state. ...

Senate leader says right-to-work bill is dead | The Indianapolis ...
The Indiana House went into session this morning, with Democrats still in ... The controversial "right to work bill" that sparked a walkout by House ...

Union fight extends to Indiana
The most high-profile would make Indiana a "right to work" state, meaning that no workplace could require employees to join a union or pay union dues. That measure appears to be at least temporarily off the table. Other bills on the Democrats' list ...

Ohio

OH: Senate Republicans say they will not eliminate collective bargaining
Senate Republicans now say they will not eliminate collective bargaining for state workers, although state unions would be able to negotiate only for wages.

Minnesota

Minn. panel delves into Dayton's public works bill

Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton's $1 billion public works bill gets its first look in the Republican-controlled Legislature on Wednesday.

Marsha Neff: 'Right to work' laws lead to lower wages, less health ...
Minnesota unions and employers can only negotiate contract provisions that ... Under "right to work" laws, unions must represent every eligible employee

Pennsylvania

No repeat of Wisconsin labor fight in Pennsylvania, Corbett says

Don't look for Gov. Tom Corbett to push Wisconsin-style concessions on the state's labor unions when he sits down for contract negotiations this year.

Pennsylvania labor groups vow to fight 'right-to-work' bill

Leaders of organized labor say they'll fight any "right-to-work" bill to ban mandatory union membership in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Senate Democrats unveil plan to bolster job creation

Democrats in the state Senate on Wednesday unveiled a wide-ranging plan to bolster job creation and investment in Pennsylvania.

Unions in Pa. stand up for their rights
Next week representative Metcalfe will reintroduce the right to work bill. This bill targets private sector employees; those employees won't be forced to pay union fees but are still allowed union representation. The AFL-CIO is against it and doesn't ...

Pa. Unions Weigh In On Collective Bargaining Battles In Other States
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and Republicans in the House and Senate said they haven't even talked about stripping unions of bargaining rights. The governor has reportedly said if a right to work bill landed on his desk, he'd sign it. ...

Michigan

Bill seeks halt to step increases for Michigan teachers
Outside, in front of the Capitol building, about 2000 police officers, firefighters and other union members protested myriad bills and plans that would make Michigan a right-to-work state, repeal binding arbitration, tax pensions, and allow emergency

Missouri

Midwest labor protests don't worry Missouri lawmakers
BY Audrey Moon JEFFERSON CITY — Even before the multistate debate on negotiating labor contracts swept across the Midwest, proposals to take on organized labor emerged in Missouri's legislature. The measure, termed by supporters as "right-to-work,"

New Hampshire

Right to Work laws create disharmony in workplaceI | The Morning ...
Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel ... Under economic analysis, Right to Work laws and the states that employ them provide

Maine

Maine Lawmaker hauls to Wisconsin
On Wednesday, Russell said LePage's announced support of a “right-to-work” proposal by Rep. Tom Winsor, R-Norway, looks to preclude a foray into union policy. This proposal would make it so those who work at unionized businesses would not be mandated ...

New Jersey

NJ: NJ gov backs 'responsible' collective bargaining
Governor Chris Christie, who gained a national reputation fighting the state's teachers and public employee unions, said Wednesday that organized labor should have collective bargaining rights.