Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Bill to Weaken Local Labor Protections

The Wisconsin Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform held a hearing yesterday on SB 634, which would prohibit (or “preempt”) local governments from creating or enforcing many different types of employment and labor protections.  State law already prohibits local communities from passing living wage or paid leave ordinances.  If passed, SB 634 would add the following labor and employment protections to this list of what local government cannot do:

1. Raise pay for employees paid by taxpayer dollars:  The bill would prohibit a higher minimum wage for employees who perform contract work for a local government, or private sector employees who perform work that is funded by a local government.
2. Limit discrimination:  Local governments would be unable to enact any regulations providing protections from employment discrimination. 
3. Stop wage theft: Local governments couldn’t add rights or remedies to recover wages that an employee believes she or he is owed by her employer.
4. Ensure fair scheduling: The bill would ban any local regulations of employee hours, including any requirements of advance notice regarding schedules.
5. Fight pay inequity: Local governments couldn’t restrict an employer’s right to solicit information regarding the salary history of a prospective employee.
6. Strengthen licensing requirements: Local governments couldn’t enact any occupational licensing requirements more stringent than the state licensing requirements for that particular occupation.
7. Promote labor peace: The bill would prohibit “labor peace agreements,” under which workers who choose to form a union agree not to protest, strike or otherwise disrupt business, while employers agree not to pressure workers not to unionize.  Many localities across the country have used such agreements to protect the right to unionize at publicly funded or subsidized projects such as airports.

Many of these types of labor and employment protections are essential for raising the wages and improving the working conditions of working women.  Many of them, such as anti-discrimination laws, prohibitions against employers soliciting the salary histories of prospective employees, and laws that protect union organizing rights are critical to reduce the gender wage gap. 

The Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health testified against the bill, as did several other organizations that advocate for issues to promote women’s economic security, labor unions, and local governments.

The Committee has not yet voted on the bill, nor has the Assembly Committee to where the Assembly version of the bill was referred held a hearing on the legislation.  We will continue to provide any relevant updates regarding the fate of this legislation.

If you would like to contact your legislators and urge them to oppose this legislation that would undermine the economic security of many working women and their families in Wisconsin, click here.