The Legislative Session is now underway and several proposed bills are making their way through the legislative process. With the new "power-sharing" rules in the State Senate, it is not surprising that many of the proposed bills are anti-labor. What is surprising is the nature and impact of some of the bills. Perhaps the most blatant example of this is house bill #5200, which would impose a thirty percent transaction fee on your pension if you move out of state. This is a silly bill which wouldn't be supported by a court, but none-the-less, this is what some of our legislators sit around and dream up. But certainly no worries, as retirement won't come for several more years if the legislature passes house bill #5015, which will prevent you from collecting state employee pension benefits until age 65. We are watching these bills closely and are lobbying to ensure these bills are not passed. Which brings to mind proposed house bill #5092, which if passed, will prohibit unions from lobbying at the legislature altogether.
Our biggest threat could be here on Thursday morning (1/18/17). It is possible that a "Right to Work" bill will be introduced in the Labor Committee. Right to Work is merely a euphemism for "no rights at work", meaning there is no unionization; the employer controls every aspect of your hours, your wages, your working conditions, your pension, your healthcare.
Thirty percent fees on pensions, increasing the retirement age to 65, and the silencing of unions. These are just a few examples of what the legislature is considering this session. We are a bit concerned. We are lobbying. If you are concerned, you need to lobby too. Contact your legislator by email or phone and let them know that they need to support working people. Let them know that you are watching.
Here is a compilation of bills under consideration this session which will impact labor. There will be more bills submitted. The House has a period of time when any member can submit a bill (that window has closed). The remainder of the bills in the House now have to come from the committees. So we are not done.
Posted 1/18/2017