It has been reported that Wisconsin became the 25th “Right-to-Work” state in the U.S. on March 11, 2015. Governor Scott Walker signed Special Session Senate Bill 44 (“Freedom to Work”) on March 9, 2015. The bill passed Wisconsin’s Senate (vote of 17-15) on February 25, 2015 and the state’s Assembly (vote of 62-35) on March 5, 22015. Wisconsin’s new law eliminates any requirement that employees pay union dues as a condition of employment, while maintaining the option to choose union membership.
The highlights of Senate Bill 44 are as follows:
It prohibits, as a condition of employment or continuing employment, that a person:
(1) refrain or resign from membership in, voluntary affiliation with, or voluntary financial support of a labor organization;
(2) become or remain a member of a labor organization;
(3) pay any dues, fees, assessments, or other charges or expenses of any kind or amount, or provide anything of value, to a labor organization;
(4) pay to any third party an amount that is in place of, equivalent to, or any portion of dues, fees, assessments, or other charges or expenses required of members of, or
employees represented by, a labor organization.
Although employees retain the right to contribute to unions, these contributions are voluntary.
Governor Walker issued a release stating that “This legislation puts power back in the hands of Wisconsin workers, by allowing the freedom to choose whether they want to join
a union and pay union dues. …This also gives Wisconsin one more tool to encourage job creators, like those here at Badger Meter, to continue investing and expanding in our state. Freedom to Work, along with our investments in worker training, and our work to lower the tax burden, will lead to more freedom and prosperity for all of Wisconsin.”
North Carolina was one of the first states in the U.S. to pass and enact “Right-to-Work” legislation. The “Old North State” has been a“Right-to-Work” state since 1947.