Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

CNAs deserve higher pay, not less training

The Wisconsin Assembly recently passed Assembly Bill 76, a reckless and dangerous bill to lower training hours required for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). The proposal to cut CNA training hours in half now heads to the Senate with Senate Bill 103.

The Senate Committee On Health & Human Services has scheduled a hearing on Senate Bill 103 on Thursday, June 6, at 9:30 am in room 411-S.

 

CNAs are some of the lowest paid healthcare workers. They do essential work providing bedside care to patients and gathering vital information necessary for nurses and physicians.

Contact your state senator today and urge them to protect patient care by voting NO on Assembly Bill 76 and its companion bill Senate Bill 103.

CNAs should not be put in vulnerable situations, nor should patients, by starting a first day with nearly half of the current training standards.

Lowering training hours is the wrong prescription to address a worker shortage.

Improving pay and working conditions will help retain current CNAs and recruit new employees. The important jobs CNAs do should be valued at a higher rate by making improvements in pay, working conditions, and safe staffing.

Speak out for patient care. Speak out for safe CNA training standards. Speak out against Senate Bill 103.

Now is the time to contact your state senator and tell them not to cut CNA training hours in half.

JFC Guts The People’s Budget

The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) is in the process of gutting The People’s Budget.

Meeting regularly, the JFC has been stripping vital worker-friendly, kid-friendly, and community-friendly proposals from Gov. Evers budget -- shortchanging Wisconsinites of the budget we deserve.

On May 9, the JFC passed a single motion to eliminate 131 items from Gov. Evers’ budget, including budget initiatives to repeal Right to Work, restore Prevailing Wage, expand Medicaid, implement non-partisan districting reform, license teachers at voucher schools, raise the minimum wage, restore Project Labor Agreements, fund the removal and replacement of lead pipe laterals and more.  

Medicaid expansion is the foundation that supports many budget initiatives in The People’s Budget. Accepting our own federal tax dollars to expand BadgerCare frees up state money that can be used to fund special education, transportation, and many of Gov. Evers’ budget proposals that our communities deserve.

Gutting the People’s Budget is wrong and not what voters signaled for in voting to elect Gov. Tony Evers in November of 2018. Gov. Evers ran on many of the proposals outlined in the budget. Republicans should not continue to ignore the will of the voters.

Other lowlights from the Republican-controlled JFC votes:

•          Slashed $900 million from proposed education funding.
•          Refused to fund a lead lateral replacement program for Wisconsin residents.
•          Failed to expand affordable health care coverage by removing plans to accept federal funding to expand BadgerCare.
•          Continued large tax breaks for wealthy corporations.
•          Dropped plans for increased aid to local governments in “shared revenue.”
•          Cut proposed increases in funding for the University of Wisconsin System by half.
•          Rejected plan to increase the number of Department of Natural Resources scientists from 5 to 2.
•          Slashed millions of dollars earmarked for clean water initiatives.

Contact members of the Joint Finance Committee as well as your state representative and senator today at (800) 362-9472 and outline your support for the worker-friendly People’s Budget.

Urge politicians in Madison to do what’s right for the entire state by passing a budget that repeals anti-worker legislation, expands Medicaid, fully funds our schools, and ensures clean and safe drinking water for all.

The deadline to pass a Wisconsin biennial budget is July 1, 2019. If a budget has not been approved by that date, the state will continue to run Gov. Walker’s austere budget.

Wisconsinites deserve a budget that reflects our values.

 

Vermont Workers Protest Scott Walker in Burlington

Vermont union members and concerned community members are coming together to protest Scott Walker’s union-busting by picketing his appearance Thursday at a GOP fundraiser in Burlington.  

 

The Vermont Republican Party has invited former Governor Scott Walker to speak on May 30^th at a fundraiser with some attendees shelling out $1,000 a plate. Scott Walker will be appearing with Vermont Governor Phil Scott.

 

Vermont workers are coming together with a rally called by the Vermont AFL-CIO and AFSCME Council 93 and endorsed by many local unions and progressive organizations to say, “Union-Busting is Not Welcome in Vermont.”

 

A solidarity letter was sent to the Vermont AFL-CIO and all working people from President Stephanie Bloomingdale of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO and Dennis Delie, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO to show support from Wisconsin. 

 

The solidarity letter will be presented by Leigh Ullman, a social worker and member of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (WFNHP), AFT. Ullman has served as a long-time officer and leader in the union. 

 

The letter reads in part:

Thank you for standing up and raising your voice against Scott Walker’s union-busting. From coast to coast, working people are united. We will not stand idly by while politicians try to attack or erode our right to collectively bargain. We will always stand united for union rights, for fair wages, and for a better tomorrow for our children.

Make no mistake. We are fighting for the soul of America’s middle class. Your picket today sends a strong message to Scott Walker, to your Governor Phil Scott, and to politicians everywhere – an injury to one is an injury to all. Union-busting is not welcome here.

 

Get updates from the Vermont AFL-CIO Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/vtworkers/

 

Or the event page.

 

As of 5/16/19 Picket Endorsed By: Vermont State Labor Council AFL-CIO, Vermont Building Trades Council AFL-CIO, Green Mountain Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, AFSCME Local 490 (Bennington County), AFSCME Local 1201 (Rutland & Addison Counties), AFSCME Local 1343 (Chittenden & Franklin Counties), AFSCME Local 1369 (Washington County), AFSCME Local 1674 (Howard Center), AFSCME Local 2413 (Northeast Kingdom), AFSCME Local 3797 (Windsor County), AFSCME Local 3977 (Lamoille County Mental Health), AFSCME Local 4802 (VT Home Healthcare), IBEW Local 300, Laborers' International Union of North America (VT), The Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 2 VT/NY, Iron Workers Local 7, Roofers & Waterproofers Local 241 VT/NY, USW Local 4, AFT-Vermont, United Academics at UVM, APWU-Vermont, UFCW Local 1459, Operating Engineers Local 98 VT/NH, Vermont State Employees’ Association, VSEA Chittenden County Chapter, VSEA Central Vermont Chapter, Staff Alliance at VSEA, Vermont-NEA, Vermont National Staff Organization at NEA, UE Local 255, Vermont Workers Center, Vermont Labor United, Vermont Woman’s March, Rights And Democracy, 350 Vermont, Vermont Sierra Club, Vermonters For A New Economy, Green Mountain John Brown Gun Club, Peace & Justice Center, LBGTQIA Alliance of Vermont, Vermont Progressive Party, Burlington Progressive Party, Vermont House of Representatives Progressive Party Caucus, Vermont Liberty Union Party, Vermont Democratic Party, Burlington Democratic Party.

 

Solidarity and thanks to all who continue to stand up and raise our voice as one against union-busting and attacks on our middle class.

Take Kids Fishing Day is Back!

Union members are once again organizing around the state to give back to local communities by sponsoring the annual “Take Kids Fishing Day.”

Together with the Union Sportsmen Alliance, local labor councils and building trades councils around Wisconsin will donate poles, rods, bait, and fishing gear as well as lend their angling expertise to teach the next generation how to fish and responsibly enjoy the outdoors.

Light lunch provided.

Dust off those fishing poles and get the kids outside for an exciting morning of catching bluegill and bass with union brothers and sisters!

 

Eau Claire

Saturday, June 1, 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Braun’s Bay

520 Carson Park Drive, Eau Claire, 54703

Register here.

 

Janesville

Sunday, June 2, 9 AM – 11:30 AM

Traxler Park

600 N Main St, Janesville, WI 53545

Register here.

 

La Crosse

Chad Erickson Memorial Park

3601 Park Lane Drive

La Crosse, WI 54601

Register here.

 

Madison

Saturday, June 1, 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM 

Vilas Park

1400 Vilas Park Dr, Madison, WI 53715

Register here. 

 

The events are free and space is limited. Participants must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or chaperone. If registration is full, children can still attend, but are encouraged to bring their own fishing gear.

Ending Tax Breaks for Moving Jobs

The Wisconsin legislature voted to end a tax loophole that allowed companies to deduct moving expenses, even when they moved jobs out of state. This is a step toward holding corporations accountable.

Take a minute to thank legislators for doing the right thing for working families.

Under current law, companies can deduct from their taxes the cost of moving expenses when they move operations anywhere – be it within Wisconsin, outside of Wisconsin, or to another country.

While a bill to eliminate tax deductions for companies moving jobs out of state has been sponsored by Democrats since 2011, legislators on both sides of the aisle recently came together to pass Assembly Bill 10 and bring an end to the tax freebies for companies who move Wisconsin jobs out of state.

On Tuesday, April 9, 2019, the Wisconsin State Assembly passed Assembly Bill 10. On May 15, the Senate passed Assembly Bill 10.

We applaud Gov. Evers for taking the lead on this important issue by putting it in his 2019-2021 budget proposal. The bill now heads to Gov. Evers’ desk.

Politicians in Madison got it right today by voting to end tax breaks for companies who move jobs out of state. Thank them by clicking here.

Wisconsin workers look forward to Gov. Tony Evers signing this bill to update our tax code. We hope legislators continue to work together to protect good Wisconsin jobs, raise wages, and restore worker rights in Wisconsin.

Tell your Legislator Don’t Cut Training Hours for CNAs

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) provide essential bedside care to patients and gather vital information necessary for nurses and physicians. They work in a wide variety of environments, from hospitals to nursing homes and even in patients’ own homes. Wisconsin joins 30 states and the District of Columbia in having a training standard higher than the federal government, but politicians in Madison want to lower CNA training standards in Wisconsin. A bill designed to cut training hours is moving in our legislature.

On Wednesday, May 15, the Wisconsin Assembly is scheduled to vote on AB 76, a bill that would cut the educational training hours for CNAs nearly in half.

Click here to protect current training standards for Certified Nursing Assistants. Tell your legislators you oppose lowering CNA educational training hours with AB 76 and its companion bill SB 103.

Having high training standards and receiving high marks for healthcare quality are not unrelated. In fact, they are very closely linked. Having a highly trained workforce ensures that workers are performing at high levels, ensuring a high standard of patient care.

To combat CNA shortages, the answer is to raise pay. Currently, CNAs are some of the lowest paid healthcare workers and they have increased responsibilities to care for our mothers, our fathers, our grandparents, the frail, and the vulnerable. Their work is difficult and often backbreaking – CNAs suffer high rates of workplace injuries.

The important jobs CNAs do should be valued at a higher rate by making improvements in their pay, working conditions, and staffing ratios. This is the only solution to the CNA shortage – not cutting training requirements.

The hasty and reckless public policy proposal to cut training requirements in half for CNAs has the potential to send insufficiently trained CNAs into positions where their lack of training could put patient care in danger.

Tell your legislators to keep current training standards for CNAs. Take action to oppose gutting CNA education and training hours today.

Solidarity with the TAA at UW-Madison

Join in solidarity with graduate students and international students at UW-Madison calling on Administrators to support a living wage, relief from mandatory fees, and quality, consistent workplace protections.

Sign the petition today and join the TAA in calling on UW–Madison administrators to commit to:

1. Paying graduate workers a living wage
2. Providing full relief from mandatory fees for graduate workers
3. Ending the discriminatory international student fee
4. Approving clear, consistent and quality policies for all graduate workers
5. Training administrators on policies for graduate workers
6. Creating a standing committee that includes graduate workers for improving our policies.

 

 

Read more about the campaign and find updates at: 

http://taa-madison.org/campaign-for-fair-pay-full-fee-coverage-and-quality-policies/  

 

Teaching Assistants Association (TAA) is the graduate worker union at UW-Madison representing all graduate student workers at UW–Madison -- TAs, PAs, RAs, GAs, and Fellows -- and is a part of the American Federation of Teachers - Wisconsin. 

Stamp Out Hunger on May 11

​The 27th annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger food drive is set for this Saturday, May 11. To make a donation simply leave a bag of non-perishable food items by your mailbox on Saturday and your letter carrier will do the rest. All donations stay local! Non-perishable goods only.

Saturday’s union-made food drive is the largest one-day food drive in America. National partners with the NALC include the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and the AFL-CIO.

Set out your non-perishable donation well before your letter carrier’s normal pick-up time. Letter carriers will be delivering and collecting mail as usual, on top of collecting food donations, so pickup time may slightly vary.

Show your union and community solidarity by making a food donation during this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Be sure to leave a bag of non-perishable food items by your mailbox on Saturday, May 11, and thank a union member for doing the rest!