In the spring of 2019, the Wisconsin Assembly passed a dangerous and reckless bill to reduce the number of training hours for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) in Wisconsin. Assembly Bill 76 would have slashed required CNA training hours from 120 to 75, sending CNAs to the bedside with less preparation. Despite concerns from workers, disability rights, healthcare, and aging groups, the bill was passed by the Senate in November of 2019.
Lowering training hours is the wrong prescription to address a CNA worker shortage. No one would suggest lowering training hours for pilots or doctors if there was a shortage in the profession.
Thankfully, on November 20, 2019, Gov. Evers’ took bold action to safeguard Wisconsin citizens from this irresponsible Republican-led legislation. Many organizations and citizens came together to put a stop to this bill. We sent messages and made phone calls, calling on Gov. Evers to stand up for quality patient care and safeguard our most vulnerable citizens with robust CNA training.
But yet again, Republicans tried to cut CNA training hours in half this week by taking a vote to override Governor Evers’ veto. A veto override would require a 2/3 vote in the Assembly. The last successful veto override in Wisconsin occurred in 1985.
On January 15, 2020, the veto override vote failed. In a party line vote of 63-36, all Assembly Democrats did the right thing for patients, and quality care by voting no and standing behind our Governor.
Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, explained why Assembly Bill 76 is the wrong way to address a shortage of caregivers in the state.
“The only way to address our chronic CNA worker shortage is to value our CNAs by increasing pay and benefits, improving working conditions, and ensuring sure every CNA has the freedom to join a union,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. “Certified Nursing Assistants, mostly women and women of color, are sadly some of the lowest paid workers who we call on every day to do critical lifesaving work caring for the frail, elderly, and sick. It’s just commonsense, better pay and benefits will help retain current CNAs and recruit new employees to the profession.”
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