Act 10 and RTW weren't enough, now Wisconsin Republicans want to give us a 7 day work week.
The Nation: These Republicans Want to Take Away Your Weekend
As Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed the so-called "right to work" bill on March 9, making Wisconsin the twenty-fifth right-to-work state in the country, labor advocates braced themselves for the stream of anti-worker bills that were almost certain to follow. Many assumed the first target would be Wisconsin's 1930s prevailing wage laws, which require that workers on public works projects be paid the established going rate for their labor, rather than allowing contractors to try to outbid each other by lowering workers' wages. Few, however, expected the legislative cluster bomb that is currently being referred to committee by a pair of Republicans: a bill to repeal the weekend.
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A similar version of this bill was introduced last year at the urging of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state's largest business organization. But the legislature was not able to vote on it before the end of the session. However, Representative Born's office was "optimistic" of the bill's chances in this session.
LA Times: Could Wisconsin's Scott Walker now abolish the weekend?
State law currently allows factory or retail employees to work seven days or more in a row for a limited period, but they and their employer have to jointly petition the Department of Workforce Development for a waiver. These petitions apparently number a couple of hundred a year. The new proposal would allow workers to "voluntarily choose" to work without a day of rest. The state agency wouldn't have a say.
It can't be a secret what "voluntarily" really means in this context. As Marquette University law professor Paul Secunda told the Nation, the measure "completely ignores the power dynamic in the workplace, where workers often have a proverbial gun to the head." Workers will know that if the boss demands it, they'll be volunteering or else.
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Walker hasn't said he would sign the bill, but he hasn't spoken out against it either; nor did he when it was introduced last year. The elimination of a guaranteed weekend would fit nicely with the rest of Walker's anti-worker platform, which includes his having ended collective bargaining rights for most public sector employees and signing the deceitfully named "right to work" law, which prohibits requirements that private-sector workers join unions or pay a representation fee as a condition of employment. Right-to-work laws in general are associated with poorer workplace conditions and lower pay than in union-friendlier states.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinal reporting on last years proposal:
GOP state lawmakers propose allowing 7-day work week
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state's largest business organization, brought the idea to them, the two Republicans said. The organization was doing a study on discrepancies between federal and state law and discovered federal law imposes no such limits on consecutive work days as long as minimum wage and overtime payment requirements are met, Born said.In an email to lawmakers seeking support for the bill, Born and Grothman said they had heard from businesses with employees who want to work the additional time. But when asked for names Born said the only people he met with to discuss the bill were from WMC.
I'm going to refrain from making an outrageous joke about what might come next out of fear of giving them any ideas.
Tue Mar 24, 2015 at 4:51 PM PT: On April 7th Wisconsin holds it's Spring Elections. Please help turn the tide of Republican tyranny by telling your Wisconsin friends and family to VOTE NO on 2015 JR 2 a Constitutional Amendment aimed at usurping Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and to VOTE FOR the re-election of Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. If you would like to further assist you can donate to Bradley for Justice or volunteer to help GOTV!
THANK YOU
