Highlights: Kloppenburg-D wins WI Supreme Court seat, and Walker’s old seat goes BLUE; PA GOP pit higher ed. against welfare recipients; IN House approves limits to teacher collective bargaining; EPI Report: R2W Wrong for New Hampshire, as state GOP goes after its own for opposing party’s budget proposal; OH GOP punishing its own for opposing SB 5; Ohio Dems working on recall legislation; full Scrooge Alert here http://dailyscroogealert.blogspot.com/
All Around
New Ohio, Wis., Labor Laws Beseiged
Education Week News
By Sean Cavanagh Elected officials in Ohio and Wisconsin were successful in muscling into law new measures to restrict collective bargaining rights for teachers and other public workers, but those controversial plans now face serious legal and ...
Wisconsin
Kloppenburg declares victory over Prosser in Supreme Court race
WI: State Supreme Court race headed for likely recount
A recount is all but certain in the race for state Supreme Court, which would pose a host of legal questions, raise the political stakes in efforts to recall state senators, ignite a new bout of political fundraising and further fuel Wisconsin's ongoing battle over union bargaining.
Wisconsin high court challenger declares victory
Demonstrators march around the State Capitol building as they protest against budget cuts from Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, in Madison February 25
Year of the union
Milwaukee News Buzz
And that's not even getting into the right-to-work bills proposed in recent months. This form of legislation guarantees that employees in unionized workplaces can opt out of joining their respective unions. Right-to-work states, which are mostly
Pennsylvania
Welfare targeted to spare higher ed
The Department of Public Welfare's proposed $11.2 billion budget, the largest area of spending in state government, remains a target of House Republicans as they attempt to restore some of Gov. Tom Corbett's recommended cuts in higher education.
Corbett's opening gambit
Allentown Morning Call
Egan did say that a collective bargaining agreement reached with AFSCME will likely serve as a template as the administration negotiates new deals with more than a dozen public employee unions that represent workers ranging from janitors to prison
Education bills head to Pa. Senate
A package of bills designed to free school districts from certain state mandates moved one step closer to becoming law on Tuesday, when the Senate Education Committee recommended 17 of the 18 bills for a full Senate vote.
Indiana
House panel approves limiting teacher collective bargaining
nwitimes.com
INDIANAPOLIS | Suspended teachers under investigation by their local school district would lose their pay but keep their benefits under a change approved Wednesday to legislation restricting teacher collective bargaining in Indiana.
Right-to-work Legislation | The Butler Collegian | Butler ...
Tags: collective bargaining, indiana democrats, indiana general assembly, indiana house of representatives, indiana senate, right-to-work legislation
Ohio
Republican who opposed SB 5 punished
Two NE Ohio Democratic lawmakers to introduce bill allowing recall ... -
Dems back bill to allow recall of Ohio governor
Spurred by a new law that curtails collective bargaining rights for public workers, Democratic lawmakers in Ohio are proposing legislation
Working against the working people
The People's Defender
Many Ohio workers cannot support their families because they have lost their jobs for refusing to join a union which uses their dues for political purposes that they oppose. What Ohio needs is a right-to-work law. Statistics show that right-to-work
Maine
Speakers 'one' with unions at UMaine rally
The Maine Campus
“'Right to work' does not empower workers. It does not guarantee a job, equitable wages and decent working conditions, nor does it prevent against unfair firings and terminations.” Murphy said unions' collective bargaining rights have created a union
Minnesota
House passes bill to trim state workforce by 15 percent
Minnesota Public Radio
Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, said the bill is disrespectful to state employees and the collective bargaining process. "Government jobs are real jobs. As long as public workers are performing a valuable service, they're doing a good job," said
Missouri
MO: Jobless aid still hung up despite new offer
Republican state senators stalling a jobless aid bill offered Wednesday to let the measure come to a vote if Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon will agree to jettison $300 million in other federal stimulus spending
New Hampshire
News from EPI: 'Right-to-Work': Wrong for New Hampshire
In a related piece, What's wrong with “right-to-work”: Chamber's numbers don't add up, Dr. Lafer critiques a report the Indiana Chamber of Commerce released
Rep ousted from panel for opposing GOP budget
Concord Monitor
Union representatives say the move would end collective bargaining rights; supporters say it would lower costs for employers by forcing unions to compromise. The State Employees' Association sent out a statement praising Quandt as a "tenacious and
Texas
Thousands protest cuts, demand lawmakers find more revenue
Thousands of state workers, community activists and union members rallied Wednesday outside the Capitol to protest budget cuts.
Florida
FL: Gov. Rick Scott drawing voter disapproval, poll shows
Booed at a ballpark. Protested at a parade. Mocked on fake dollar bills. Rick Scott doesn't just seem more disliked — he is, in fact, growing increasingly unpopular, according to the latest Quinnipiac University survey of 1,499 registered Florida voters.
Florida Legislative Session First-Half Report: Yuck!
The Bradenton Times
The folks who brought you the weekend, the 40-hour week, dignified retirement, the sick day... well they are everyone's favorite pariah right now, and despite the fact that a quick look at an average earnings chart of right to work states vs. unionized ...
