Message #1583

[Lisa Wolfe]

Walker moves to tighten anti-strike laws

Gov. Scott Walker's collective bargaining bill allows state employees to be fired for three unexcused absences during a state of emergency declared by the governor.
The provision appears to tighten long-standing anti-strike laws, said Peter Davis, general counsel of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission.
Public employee strikes or work slow-downs have long been outlawed as long as a "concerted" effort by a group of employees is present, Davis said.
The provision of the new law allows firings for individual actions during an emergency, Davis said.
The governor may declare an emergency for 60 days if there is a "disaster or imminent threat of disaster."