The Session moves on……….

Many harmful bills have been discussed in public hearings over the past month and these hearings are beginning to wind down which means they will be in committee’s for votes. This is why I urge you to make phone calls and send letters informing our elected officials why the following bills cannot be passed.

HB 6534 - Filed 2009-02-18AN ACT CONCERNING LABOR UNION AUTHORIZATION CARD CHECKS.
This bill, if passed, would strip workers of the protection of secret ballot elections in union organizing campaigns, restrict employers’ ability to have a fair say during union organizing campaigns and expand employment related class action litigation against employers.

SB 365 - Filed 2009-01-30AN ACT CONCERNING CAPTIVE AUDIENCE MEETINGS.
This bill is designed to prohibit an employer from coercing employees into attending or participating in meetings sponsored by the employer concerning their views on union organizing. This bill is defined as a bill that protects employees from employers that wants to impose political or religious views on them. In reality, this bill would only make it easier to unionize a company.


HB 6187 - Filed 2009-01-26AN ACT MANDATING EMPLOYERS PROVIDE PAID SICK LEAVE TO EMPLOYEES.
This act, if passed, would require employers with fifty or more employees provide six paid sick days to their employees for use for the employee's sickness, the employee's child's sickness, or to deal with sexual assault or family violence issues. This bill would increase an employer’s cost of doing business and handcuff their ability to design employment benefits that best fit their industry. This bill states that this will only affect businesses with 50 employees or more. But if passed this session, you can count on the same sponsoring legislators to come back next year with a bill that decreases the number of employees which would broaden the affected base.

HB 5514 - Filed 2009-01-21AN ACT MANDATING PAID SICK LEAVE.
This act, if passed, would force employers to give 1 hour of paid sick time for every 40 hours worked by the employee. This bill is yet another cost increase that would harm the ability to do business in Connecticut and make the state less competitive. This bill has received serious attention from both sides of the aisle and is presently the closest to being passed which is why we need to contact our Legislators and let them know why they should kill this bill.


HB 6188 - Filed 2009-01-26AN ACT CONCERNING STATE EMPLOYEES AND VIOLENCE AND BULLYING IN THE WORKPLACE.
This bill would add language to the state of Connecticut’s policy concerning abusive conduct in the workplace. This addition would include abusive language, which does not seem to be a bad idea until you read the bill in its entirety. The term “Abusive Language” is not defined and vague. This will surely increase the number of discriminatory cases against the state along with litigation costs. This act will only affect state agencies, but if this bill is passed this year, you can count on it coming back next year to include the private sector.

HB 6035 - Filed 2009-01-23AN ACT RAISING THE THRESHOLD FOR PREVAILING WAGES.
This bill, if passed, would raise the threshold for prevailing wages and increase the cost of doing business.

SB 113 - Filed 2009-02-03AN ACT CONCERNING UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.
This bill, if passed, would expand the availability of unemployment compensation benefits to displaced workers who obtain part-time employment. Unemployment compensation benefits would come at the expense of the original employer. Connecticut currently provides reduced unemployment compensation benefits for part-time workers who are actively seeking full-time employment. This bill would disregard the conflict of interest if passed. Also, unemployment compensation benefits are funded by the employers through contributions to the state Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund. This fund is already under-funded due to the state’s jobless rate and will cost an estimated $500 million so make it solvent. Therefore, we cannot pass legislation that would make that number even higher. Lastly, this bill will encourage people to work part-time and collect unemployment compensation.


For more information on any of these bills please contact Jeffrey Rouleau at 203-757-0701 or by e-mail at jrouleau@waterburychamber.com.