Along with the landmark paid sick leave law discussed yesterday, the Connecticut General Assembly also has outlawed discrimination based upon gender identity or expression.
House Bill 6599, passed on June 4, makes it illegal to discriminate based upon a person's "gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at birth." The prohibition is comprehensive, applying not just to employment, but also to housing, state contracts, higher education, library services, utility services, automobile insurance, trade, public accommodations, credit, state services and golf club memberships. This enormous step forward in LGBT rights, which Governor Malloy intends to sign, will take effect on October 1, 2011. The employment provisions are extremely broad, as they apply to every employer in Connecticut with at least three employees.
I can't tell you how gratifying it is that my home state is working to swing the pendulum back towards protecting the rights of human beings, instead of corporate "persons."
Showing posts with label legislation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label legislation. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Connecticut Becomes First State To Require Paid Sick Leave (For Some Workers)
Hallelujah! My home state, Connecticut, has just passed the first law in the country requiring employers to offer paid sick leave. Governor Malloy has already said he will sign the bill into law.
The law requires employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for each 40 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours (5 full days) per year. Employees are allowed to carry over up to 40 unused hours per year. Employees can begin using the sick leave after they have worked 680 hours (17 full weeks). Paid sick leave can be used for the employee's health condition, including treatment or preventive care, or the health condition of a child, parent or spouse. Special provisions of the law apply to victims of domestic violence.
The law is not perfect. It does not apply to all employers; only those with 50 or more employees are covered. In addition, manufacturing companies and nationally chartered nonprofit organizations are exempted from coverage. The law also does not apply to all employees. Only hourly workers, not salaried, are covered. In additions, day laborers, temporary workers, part-time and adjunct faculty at state colleges and independent contractors are excluded.
Still, this is a great start. Once this law goes into effect, the dire predictions of its opponents will be shown to be nothing but hot air. At that point, we may be able to expand it to cover salaried workers, smaller employers, manufacturers, etc. And once that happens, lets hope the good example of Connecticut will lead other states to do the same.
The law requires employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for each 40 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours (5 full days) per year. Employees are allowed to carry over up to 40 unused hours per year. Employees can begin using the sick leave after they have worked 680 hours (17 full weeks). Paid sick leave can be used for the employee's health condition, including treatment or preventive care, or the health condition of a child, parent or spouse. Special provisions of the law apply to victims of domestic violence.
The law is not perfect. It does not apply to all employers; only those with 50 or more employees are covered. In addition, manufacturing companies and nationally chartered nonprofit organizations are exempted from coverage. The law also does not apply to all employees. Only hourly workers, not salaried, are covered. In additions, day laborers, temporary workers, part-time and adjunct faculty at state colleges and independent contractors are excluded.
Still, this is a great start. Once this law goes into effect, the dire predictions of its opponents will be shown to be nothing but hot air. At that point, we may be able to expand it to cover salaried workers, smaller employers, manufacturers, etc. And once that happens, lets hope the good example of Connecticut will lead other states to do the same.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Unemployment Benefits Slashed In Michigan
What is it with Governor Rick Snyder and the Corporatist Republicans who are running Michigan? On the heels of outlawing worker safety rules, the Michigan legislature has just voted to slash unemployment benefits.
Instead of 26 weeks of benefits, starting in January 2012 new claimants will only be able to collect unemployment for 20 weeks. Thus, Michigan is now the only state that offers fewer than 26 weeks of state unemployment benefits.
This makes no sense. In January, 2011, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Michigan was 10.7%, while the national average was 8.9%. In 2010, the average length of unemployment in Michigan 40 weeks. As of November 30, 2010, about 162,000 people in Michigan had exhausted the extended 99 weeks of federal benefits. And the Republican-controlled legislature thinks it's a good idea to cut benefits?!!?
In the meantime, Governor Snyder wants to cut corporate taxes by 86%. Talk about a corporate tool!
Instead of 26 weeks of benefits, starting in January 2012 new claimants will only be able to collect unemployment for 20 weeks. Thus, Michigan is now the only state that offers fewer than 26 weeks of state unemployment benefits.
This makes no sense. In January, 2011, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Michigan was 10.7%, while the national average was 8.9%. In 2010, the average length of unemployment in Michigan 40 weeks. As of November 30, 2010, about 162,000 people in Michigan had exhausted the extended 99 weeks of federal benefits. And the Republican-controlled legislature thinks it's a good idea to cut benefits?!!?
In the meantime, Governor Snyder wants to cut corporate taxes by 86%. Talk about a corporate tool!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Workplace Safety Rules Are Now Illegal In Michigan
Yes, you read that correctly. Michigan's Corporatist governor, Rick Snyder, signed a bill that outlaws workplace ergonomics regulations. Ergonomic rules are designed to prevent injuries caused by lifting, bending, repetitive motions, etc.
How stupid is this? In the interests of "competitiveness," the State of Michigan has decided not only that it is ok for workers to be injured on the job, but that attempts to lessen the likelihood of injury are illegal! And will this really make Michigan more "competitive?" Have they factored in the hidden costs, in things like lost time and productivity and increased workers' comp payments? This is just another example of Republicans placing corporate interests above those of human beings.
How stupid is this? In the interests of "competitiveness," the State of Michigan has decided not only that it is ok for workers to be injured on the job, but that attempts to lessen the likelihood of injury are illegal! And will this really make Michigan more "competitive?" Have they factored in the hidden costs, in things like lost time and productivity and increased workers' comp payments? This is just another example of Republicans placing corporate interests above those of human beings.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Tea Party Republican Introduces Federal Union-Busting Bill
(h/t to Labor Relations Today for bringing this to my attention)
Senator Jim DeMint, the man who single-handedly is trying to pull the Republican party (and the nation) off the cliff of right-wing lunacy, has introduced a union-busting bill in the Senate. The so-called "National Right to Work Act" (a bit of Orwellian doublespeak) would strip unions of their rights to collect dues from all employees whom they benefit by outlawing union security agreements. Such "right to work" provisions are already the law in 22 states -- mostly in the south and midwest. A look at wage information shows that these so-called "right to work" states have lower average wages than states which protect the rights of workers to organize into unions. Ya think there might be a relationship there?
Thankfully, with the Senate in Democratic hands and a Democratic president, this bill is going nowhere.
Senator Jim DeMint, the man who single-handedly is trying to pull the Republican party (and the nation) off the cliff of right-wing lunacy, has introduced a union-busting bill in the Senate. The so-called "National Right to Work Act" (a bit of Orwellian doublespeak) would strip unions of their rights to collect dues from all employees whom they benefit by outlawing union security agreements. Such "right to work" provisions are already the law in 22 states -- mostly in the south and midwest. A look at wage information shows that these so-called "right to work" states have lower average wages than states which protect the rights of workers to organize into unions. Ya think there might be a relationship there?
Thankfully, with the Senate in Democratic hands and a Democratic president, this bill is going nowhere.
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