Wisconsin Becomes 25th State with Right to Work Law

The signing of Wisconsin's Right to Work law on March 9, 2015, means all workers in the state will be able to have jobs without being required to join a union or pay dues and fees

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On March 9, Wisconsin became the 25th state to enact a Right to Work law, allowing all workers in the state to have a job without paying dues or fees to a labor union.

Federal labor law allows states to determine whether workers can be forced to join a union or pay union dues or fees, as a condition of employment. Right to Work laws guarantee workers can seek employment without fearing they will be required to join (or pay) a union if they are hired.

"The Wisconsin 2015 - 2017 legislative session is only a few weeks old, and already Right to Work is law," said ABC Wisconsin Chapter President John Mielke. "ABC Wisconsin was part of the coalition that made it happen. Now, we are working hard to reform prevailing wage and fight project labor agreement mandates"

"Workers in half the states now enjoy the freedom and economic benefits of laws that allow them to work without paying dues or fees to labor unions," said Andy Conlin, ABC National director of state and local affairs. "The enactment of this law shows state leaders like Gov. Scott Walker, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald continue to be willing to take on important labor reforms that benefit taxpayers and the vast majority of American workers. We strongly encourage state lawmakers in Wisconsin and throughout the country to continue to address issues that make it difficult for employers in the construction industry to thrive - like discriminatory project labor agreement mandates and wasteful prevailing wage requirements."

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