Judge reinstates Wisconsin's RTW law

A Wisconsin appeals court on May 24 granted an emergency request to put on hold a Dane County circuit judge’s ruling striking down the state’s right-to-work law.

The Appeals Court granted the stay request made in April by Attorney General Brad Schimel, a Republican who is defending the law signed by Gov. Scott Walker and passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature.

In April, Dane County Circuit Judge William Foust struck down the law as unconstitutional, ruling the measure was unconstitutional because it takes property, in the form of fees, from labor unions without compensating them.

Judge Faust was one of the few judges in the nation to recognize the “free rider” situation allowed by right-to-work laws, which allow workers to enjoy the benefits of union membership without having to pay dues.

The right-to-work law was adopted last year in Wisconsin. The International Association of Machinists, United Steelworkers and AFL-CIO sued the state after the law went into effect saying that they were being forced to provide services without compensation.

“We feel confident the law will ultimately be found constitutional, as it has been in more than half the states across the country,” the Wisconsin Department of Justice said in a statement.

Verizon unions win nice settlement

Nearly 40,000 Verizon workers who had been on strike since April 13 are celebrating big gains after reaching a tentative agreement on May 28 with the company. After 45 days of the largest strike in recent history, Verizon will add 1,300 new East Coast call center jobs, and reverse several other outsourcing initiatives that will create new field technician jobs.

The four-year proposed agreement provides 10.9 percent in raises, signing bonuses, a $2,800 minimum in profit sharing, pension increases, and a first contract for Verizon Wireless retail store employees in Brooklyn, NY and Everett, MA. Striking workers were represented by the IBEW and Communication Workers of America.

“The addition of good new jobs at Verizon is a huge win not just for striking workers, but for our communities and the country as a whole. This contract is a victory for working families across the country and an affirmation of the power of working people,” said Chris Shelton, President of the Communications Workers of America. “It proves that when we stand together we can raise up working families, improve our communities and advance the interests of America’s working people.”

Striking workers were slated to be back on the job on June 1.

The new contract guarantees that an increased percentage of customer service work will be handled by unionized workers. As a result, Verizon will add 1,300 call center jobs, 850 in the Mid-Atlantic region and 450 in the Northeast. All proposed reductions of pensions were withdrawn by the company.