The Latest from the States: The Fight for Workers' Rights Goes On

New Jersey

Governor Christie is refusing to bargain over health care for state workers after having said earlier that he would negotiate over the issue. Christie wants the legislature to pass a bill requiring public workers to pay 30 percent of the cost of their health benefits.

In response, the state Assembly passed a resolution that supports collective bargaining and calls on the Christie Administration to immediately begin to bargain in good faith with the state's public sector unions.

Ohio

More than 100 religious leaders signed a letter to House Speaker Bill Batchelder opposing the anti-public worker bargaining bill that some politicians are backing.

On Tuesday, clergy and other supporters, members of Clergy United Against Senate Bill 5, marched to the Statehouse to deliver that message in person. The bill passed the Senate by a 17-16 vote. A House hearing is expected next week, with a vote on final passage on likely in late March/early April.

Governor John Kasich is a big supporter of the bill, but he's finding that he's out of step with Ohio voters. A new poll by Quinnipiac University found that 46 percent disapprove of the job Kasich is doing, compared to 30 percent who approve. Some 53 percent said his budget proposal with spending reductions and no tax increases was unfair, and 54 percent disagreed with the attack on collective-bargaining rights.

Wisconsin

The Wisconsin law to end collective bargaining for public workers is on hold pending a hearing to determine whether Republicans broke the state’s open meetings law when they rushed to pass the bill two weeks ago.

Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the law from taking effect until hearings over the rush scheduling and lack of notice. The state attorney general is appealing.

Workers and allies are continuing to gather signatures to recall eight of the Republican senators who voted for the bill. Other Republican lawmakers and Gov. Scott Walker are expected to face recall efforts after being in office for one year.

New Hampshire

The NH House Finance Committee voted to amend the House budget bill to classify all public workers as "at will" employees when their contracts expire. The amendment states that after contracts expire, "salaries, benefits, and terms and conditions of employment will be at the discretion of the employer."