This week we look at Vermont's recently passed public-sector union bill
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Welcome to Union Station, our weekly newsletter that keeps you abreast of the legislation, national trends, and public debate surrounding public-sector union policy.
** VERMONT ENACTS LEGISLATION GRANTING PUBLIC-SECTOR UNIONS GREATER ACCESS TO NEW EMPLOYEES
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On Oct. 12, Gov. Phil Scott (R) into law S254, omnibus legislation that will grant public-sector unions greater access to new employees and facilitate automatic dues deductions.
** WHAT DOES THE LEGISLATION DO?
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The legislation ([link removed]) will make the following changes to Vermont's public-sector labor relations laws effective Jan. 1, 2021:
* Requires employers to provide unions with opportunities to meet newly hired employees, either during an employee's orientation or within 30 days of being hired.
* Requires an employer to furnish a union with a list of all the employees within the union's bargaining unit. This list, which the employer must provide annually, must contain every employee's name, work location, job classification, and contact information (including home address, personal email address, and home and cell phone numbers).
* Grants employees the right to automatic union dues deductions. An employer must begin dues deductions within 30 days of receiving an employee's written consent.
* Modifies the union certification process.
Other enacted public-sector labor bills
State legislatures in three other states have enacted public-sector labor legislation this year:
* California AB2850 ([link removed]) : Specifies that the Public Employment Relations Board has jurisdiction to enforce statutory provisions governing employer-employee relations within the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District.
* Virginia HB582 ([link removed]) : Repeals the prohibition against public-sector employee collective bargaining.
* Virginia SB939 ([link removed]) : Permits local governments to recognize unions as bargaining agents for public-sector workers.
* Washington HB2017 ([link removed]) : Establishes collective bargaining rights for administrative law judges.
** LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
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Sen. Michael Sirotkin (D) introduced S254 on Jan. 9. On Sept. 4, the Senate approved the legislation and sent it to the House, which passed it with an amendment on Sept. 23. The Senate agreed to the House amendment on Sept. 24 and sent the bill to the governor on Oct. 6. Scott signed it into law on Oct. 12.
** POLITICAL CONTEXT
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Vermont has a divided government ([link removed]) . A Republican holds the governorship, but Democrats have majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.
** WHAT ARE THE REACTIONS?
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SUPPORT
* Heather Riemer, the director of the Vermont chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, said ([link removed]) , "It’s basically making sure employers don’t decide they want to make it harder for people to be union members by denying them the right to have their union dues taken out of their paycheck."
OPPOSITION
* Max Nelsen, the labor policy director at the Freedom Foundation, said ([link removed]) , "If you happen to make it through that 60-minute orientation and you don’t sign up for union membership, It’s entirely possible that you’ll start receiving phone calls or emails or maybe a visit to your home on a Saturday morning from union organizers trying to get you signed up."
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** WHAT WE ARE READING
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* WCAX 3, "New Vermont law aims to strengthen labor unions," Oct. 21, 2020 ([link removed])
* The Center Square, "Ohio state government employee asks SCOTUS to consider class-action lawsuit over refunds for previously paid union fees," Oct. 19, 2020 ([link removed])
* The Wall Street Journal, "Union Voters Are at Center of Trump vs. Biden Battle for Pennsylvania," Oct. 17, 2020 ([link removed])
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** THE BIG PICTURE
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** _NUMBER OF RELEVANT BILLS BY STATE_
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We are currently tracking 102 pieces of legislation dealing with public-sector employee union policy. On the map below, a darker shade of green indicates a greater number of relevant bills. Click here for a complete list of all the bills we're tracking.
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** _NUMBER OF RELEVANT BILLS BY CURRENT LEGISLATIVE STATUS_
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** _NUMBER OF RELEVANT BILLS BY PARTISAN STATUS OF SPONSOR(S)_
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** RECENT LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
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No legislative actions have been taken on relevant bills since our last issue.
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