Three labor bills that would impact small businesses are moving forward in Madison. Here’s a look at them.
Project Labor Agreements
Gov. Scott Walker has signed into law legislation that prohibits local governments from requiring contractors to have a collective bargaining agreement with a labor union as a condition for bidding on a public works project.
This measure, Senate Bill 3, was a small business key vote, and NFIB/WI told legislators the legislation was good for small business, good for those who work for small business, good for taxpayers, and good for the state’s economy.
During the bill signing ceremony, hosted by NFIB member Amerilux International in DePere, Gov. Walker thanked NFIB for actively supporting passage of SB 3, which will promote competition among contractors large and small provide good value for public works projects.
Twenty-two states have adopted similar legislation or taken executive action restricting the use of project labor agreements.
Work Permit Legislation
The Assembly has approved legislation that will eliminate work permit requirements for workers 16 and 17 years of age. Assembly Bill 25 will eliminate an “unnecessary layer of bureaucracy, provide young people with an opportunity for legal, gainful employment, and remove one of the barriers to employment that unaccompanied and homeless teens often face in the workplace,” according to the bill’s author Representative Amy Loundenbeck (Clinton).
Supporters say the legislation will make it easier for young people without parents to find jobs. Opponents believe that it will cut parents out of the approval loop, and decrease state and local revenues by $730,000.
There are currently 18 states that have similar age requirements including Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois.
The legislation does not change any current state or federal laws related to hours and time of day a minor may work, and it does not change restricted or prohibited employment of minors.
Prevailing Wage Legislation
Legislation that would repeal Wisconsin’s prevailing wage law is moving closer to a vote in the Senate.
Senate Bill 216, introduced by Senator Leah Vukmir (Brookfield) and Representative Rob Hutton (Brookfield), has been reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation for passage.
A recent study by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance found the prevailing wage law unnecessarily increased public construction costs by over $300 million per year. The study concluded taxpayers often pay as much as 45 percent above the market average as a direct result of the prevailing wage law.
NFIB/WI testified before the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform, noting that “as taxpayers, small business owners want their government to be efficient and prudent with their tax dollars. Where there are waste and fraud, eliminate it; where there is excessive, inefficient spending, reduce it; and where there are policies that needlessly increase the cost of government, repeal them.”
SB 216 is expected to soon be scheduled for floor debate in the Senate.
