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3/6/2015 - Wisconsin Becomes A Right To Work State After Assembly Vote - Click here to print this information

Governor Scott Walker says he looks forward to signing the right-to-work bill into law on Monday. The Assembly gave final legislative approval to the measure this morning on a 62-to-35 party-line vote. That was after majority Republicans gave Democrats their say during about 19 hours of debate which lasted all night. In a statement, Walker called the bill "freedom to work" legislation. He said it would give workers the "freedom to choose whether or not they want to join a union." The Republican governor also said it would give employers what he called "another compelling reason to consider expanding or moving their business to Wisconsin." The new law prohibits employers from making the payment of union dues a condition of employment in new labor contracts. Democrats and union leaders said it will eventually result in lower wages and benefits, as the result of lower union dues' revenues from those who choose not to pay them. Milwaukee Assembly Democrat Fred Kessler said it would destroy labor peace, pitting workers and against their bosses. Stephanie Bloomingdale of the Wisconsin A-F-L C-I-O said it would not create jobs and "not help one family put food on the table." Among both houses, the only Republican to vote no was Senator Jerry Petrowski of Marathon. Assembly Republicans Travis Tranel of Cuba City and Lee Nerison of Westby marched in lockstep with their party this time -- after both voted no in 2011 to the near-elimination of public union bargaining privileges under Act-10.

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