Posts tagged legislation
A Senate bill seeks to restore collective bargaining for a huge swath of federal workers
September 22, 2025 // Warner was quick to point out what union representation for federal workers does not do. “Let’s be clear, a federal union doesn’t have the ability to strike, or negotiate pay or benefits,” Warner said. But, he said, union representation for federal workers is designed to prevent discrimination and unlawful firings, as well as offer protections for whistleblowers.
Andrews joins Labor Caucus to announce new unemployment legislation
September 21, 2025 // “Everything from adjusting the way that the unemployment rates are garnishments and the minimum percentages that are taken off, all the way down to how we classify workers,” Andrews said. The bill from Andrews would implement the “ABC Test” at the Unemployment Insurance Agency. The test is used in states like California to better determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor.
A quiet victory: Trump rule protecting federal workers survives Biden’s presidency
July 13, 2025 // Despite the Biden administration’s commitment to promoting unions, our arguments must have carried the day, as President Trump was re-inaugerated in January 2025 without the FLRA taking any further action and the pro-worker rule from his first term still in place. As a result, federal employees today continue to have more control over their paychecks and there’s one less item on the new administration’s to-do list.
Editorial: Unionizing Uber and Lyft drivers may speed up their robotic replacement
July 2, 2025 // Here’s the issue for drivers. Labor talks are playing out as Uber and its competitors are investing heavily in driverless vehicles, just like Tesla. Uber isn’t hiding that future. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi even told The Wall Street Journal this year he expects AVs to gradually overtake human drivers.
Sen. Hawley Introduces Bill to Raise Minimum Wage to $15
June 10, 2025 // Some business advocacy groups still oppose minimum rate hikes, including Hawley's proposed bill. "This proposal would more than double the minimum wage and slash over 800,000 jobs," Rebekah Paxton, research director at the Employment Policies Institute, said in a statement to The Hill. "An overwhelming majority of economists agree that drastic minimum wage hikes cut employment, limit opportunities for workers and shutter businesses."
CT Lawmakers Find the Line Between Governing and Union Organizing — and Cross It
May 19, 2025 // Standing alongside Sen. Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) and Rep. Nick Gauthier (D–Waterford), and Sen. MD Rahman (D-Manchester), Sen. Kushner made it crystal clear where her priorities lie — not in brokering solutions, but in prolonging standoffs. “We’ve been fighting for Senate Bill 8,” she told the crowd, referring to her legislation. She framed it to protect workers — but in reality, it’s designed to help unions hold the line longer by forcing employers to bankroll the strikes being waged against them. Describing the bill as a response to a supposedly broken federal labor system, she even falsely claiming that “we don’t even have a Federal Labor Board” — using that to justify why Connecticut needs to “do everything” to support strikers, including paying them not to work.
Two Freedom Foundation-Backed Bills Pass Arkansas State Legislature, Await Governor’s Signature
April 15, 2025 // HB1724 will work to improve local schools and strengthen communities rather than allowing union influence to control the election cycle, and SB402 will protect Arkansas educators and public employees from high-pressure union organizing activities during the school day. Both bills represent a critical implementation of new boundaries, which will encourage responsible taxpayer spending and a more accountable system for unions to abide by, preventing the left-wing union agenda from continuing to be inappropriately pushed into Arkansas schools.
Bill would authorize two pensions for WA state employees
March 19, 2025 // Union-backed legislation under consideration by state lawmakers in Olympia could open the door for the state to fund union-run pensions for state workers in addition to the existing state-run pension system. If adopted, HB 1069 would allow unions representing state employees to collectively bargain over “supplemental” retirement benefits. Depending on the result of these negotiations, such supplemental benefits could be funded by the state/taxpayers, deductions from state employees’ wages, or some combination of the two.
Lawmakers propose banning all federal labor unions
March 17, 2025 // “This legislation would end federal labor unions and immediately terminate their collective bargaining agreements to ensure the federal government is working on behalf of the American people – not labor unions – by increasing the productivity of its workforce,” Blackburn said in a statement. If passed, the bill would affect 25% of the federal employee workforce who are members of public sector unions, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
South Hampton Roads mayors form regional coalition against collective bargaining
February 18, 2025 // Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer said he’s recruiting mayors in South Hampton Roads and plans to reach out to mayors on Peninsula to form a group and hold meetings “to fend off collective bargaining because of the incredible cost.” “They’re (state lawmakers) trying to impose collective bargaining on every city, and making sure the city has no choice,” said Dyer in an interview.