State Roundup: Battle for Workers' Rights Sweeps Nation

It's not just Wisconsin and Ohio where workers are fighting to save collective bargaining rights, their voice at work and democracy itself. Here's what is happening in a few of the other embattled states:

Florida

The Florida Senate Labor and Education Committee passed a "paycheck deception" bill to prohibit payroll deduction for any union dues. The bill also severely restricts workers' ability to make payroll contributions for political activity. Remember, these are voluntary contributions that CWAers and other union members choose to make to support candidates who support working families.

CWA members were among thousands of workers rallying Tuesday outside the Tennessee capitol in Nashville.

Michigan

Why does Michigan Governor Rick Snyder hate democracy? He's pushed for extreme legislation that would allow him to declare "financial martial law," just about anywhere in the state. The legislature passed a bill allowing Snyder to declare a financial emergency in any city or community and to appoint managers who would have broad power to remove local elected officials from office, terminate collective bargaining and force the consolidation of schools, townships, cities and counties. All of this would happen without authority or approval from voters or any other elected body. It's a shocking payback to corporate interests.

Working families, union and non-union, students and other activists are standing up today in Lansing to say "No!" to this anti-democratic power grab.

Missouri

Some good news from Jefferson City, for now at least. The Missouri Senate shelved a right-to-work (for less) bill without a vote. Stay tuned, it's unclear if the bill will come up after the Senate's spring break.

Tennessee

About 1,000 of activists, including many CWAers attending the District 3 conference, rallied in Nashville on March 15 against the legislature's broad attack on working families. Paycheck deception, right-to-work (for less) and attacks on teachers are making their way through the legislature.