04/ 02/ 2007
With state proposals on minimum wage, paid family leave and other issues surfacing across the country, NFIB fights for small business in each state capital
The U.S Congress isn't the only venue where labor activists are looking to cash in chits they believe they earned in the last election (See "NFIB Takes on Big Labor," February/ March MyBusiness). Legislators in statehouses across the country are feeling the pressure as well, and NFIB is facing the challenges.
"Union activity threatening small businesses seems to be rising to a level we haven't seen in nearly 30 years," says Steve Woods, NFIB vice president for state operations. "But when NFIB members step up to meet the challenges head on, we can prevail against unfriendly proposals."
Congressional minimum-wage action notwithstanding (See "NFIB Succeeds in Getting Small-Business Tax Breaks in Minimum-Wage Hike Bills," this issue.), a number of states (particularly in the South and the Midwest) are looking at some form of wage increase. In some states, such as Louisiana, proposals require a minimum wage higher than any new federal minimum.
Another popular and related item on the labor agenda is the so-called living wage. While definitions vary (based on local conditions and whether benefits such as health care are offered), a living wage is typically around $10.50 to $11. It's based on the cost of moving wages above the federal poverty level for a family of four. Businesses who want to contract with state or local governments are the most frequent targets of living-wage legislation, which often tries to require businesses to pay the wage in order to win the contracts.
In addition to perennial requests for workers' compensation benefit increases, activists also want to establish paid sick and/or family leave for employees. For example, New Jersey small-business owners are fighting a paid family-leave proposal modeled after a 2004 California law.
In this case, employees could be paid two-thirds of their salary (up to $502 a week) for up to 12 weeks to care for newborn children, newly adopted children or sick family members. Employees would contribute an average of about $1 a week, proponents say, to the state's temporary disability insurance fund, which would cover the cost of an employee's leave.
"It's a tough thing," Laurie Ehlbeck, state director for NFIB/New Jersey, told the Asbury Park Press. "Small employers have a personal relationship with employees. They're not saying they don't think someone shouldn't be able to tend to personal matters. É Those decisions should be left to the employer and employee to work out on their own." Finally, in one unique case, teachers' proponents in Ohio have formed a coalition to try to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that, if passed, would guarantee Ohio children a "fundamental right" to a "high quality public education"--and the funds to pay for it, regardless of other state budget needs.
NFIB.com
What's the latest news in your state? To find out how NFIB is working in your capital, visit your state Web page at www.NFIB.com.
