Connecticut State Senate passes bill to increase union access to public employees 

The Connecticut state Senate passed a bill on May 13 that would require public employers to provide unions with increased information about and access to public employees. It would also prohibit employers from discouraging union membership. 

About the bill

The Connecticut state Senate passed Senate Bill 908 on May 13. The vote was 22-13, with all 12 Senate Republicans and one Democrat voting against the bill. 

The bill would require public employers to provide unions with contact information for employees, give unions access to new employee orientations, and allow unions to meet with employees on workplace premises.  

The bill also says: 

A public employer shall not deter or discourage public employees or applicants for public employee positions from becoming or remaining members of a public employee organization, or from authorizing representation by a public employee organization, or from authorizing dues or deductions to a public employee organization. …

It shall be a prohibited practice for a public employer to: (1) Encourage an employee to resign or decline to obtain membership in a public employee organization, (2) encourage an employee to revoke authorization for a payroll deduction of dues to a public employee organization, (3) knowingly aid any such effort by any other entity, or (4) permit use of the employer’s electronic mail system by any entity to discourage membership in a public employee organization or discourage authorization of payroll deduction of dues to a public employee organization.

The bill would not repeal or amend existing law as it establishes these requirements for employers. To view a bill analysis from the Office of Legislative Research, click here.

Sen. Martin Looney (D), one of three Democratic co-sponsors of the legislation, said the bill is “an effort to mitigate as far as we can, as a matter of law, the unfortunate and corrosive U.S Supreme Court decision in Janus.”

The Labor and Public Employees Committee, a joint standing committee of the Connecticut General Assembly, introduced the bill. 

What comes next

The bill was added to the House calendar on May 14. Democrats have a 97-54 majority in the House. 

Perspectives

Supporting

Sen. Julie Kushner (D), another of the bill’s co-sponsors, said, “I believe the most important aspect of this bill is to ensure that every worker has equal opportunity to hear both from the employer and from the union. … [I]t is really important that people have information from the union to really understand what it is about.”

Sen. Jorge Cabrera (D) said, “This is a good bill that puts several needed standards in place for employees and unions and I am proud to support it. … It is one of my top priorities to support and empower workers and this legislation provides employees with information about union membership and improves communication between public employees and unions on several fronts.”

Opposing

The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities said, “Connecticut has been successful in achieving a positive working relationship between municipal employers and unions, and the requirements mandated in SB 908 harm the relationship between management and labor. The Janus vs. AFSCME Supreme Court decision has not eroded union membership and CCM views the bill as a terrible solution in search of a nonexistent problem.”

John Kalb, vice president of the National Right to Work Committee, said, “Instead of respecting the Supreme Court’s Janus decision, Big Labor’s allies in the Connecticut Senate are granting union bosses a host of privileges so they can manipulate more and more Connecticut public servants into paying them dues while keeping them in the dark about their First Amendment right to abstain from union financial support.”

What we’re reading

• Roll Call, “Biden’s labor support may stall unless Senate enacts protections,” May 18, 2021
• Law360, “Observers Expect Biden To Pick Labor-Side Judges Soon,” May 18, 2021  
• East Bay Times, “COVID’s political impact: Teachers union outspends Big Oil in Sacramento,” May 16, 2021 

The big picture

Number of relevant bills by state

We are currently tracking 92 pieces of legislation dealing with public-sector employee union policy. On the map below, a darker shade of green indicates a greater number of relevant bills. Click here for a complete list of all the bills we’re tracking. 

Number of relevant bills by current legislative status

Number of relevant bills by partisan status of sponsor(s) 

Recent legislative actions

Below is a complete list of relevant legislative actions taken since our last issue. 

• Connecticut SB00908: This bill would require public employers to furnish unions with personal contact information of employees belonging to the bargaining unit the union represents. It would also require employers to grant unions access to new employee orientations.
  • Democratic sponsorship. 
  • Senate passed as amended May 13. Added to House calendar May 14. 
• Illinois HB2521: This bill would allow electronic signatures on petitions submitted for selecting an exclusive bargaining representative. It would allow certification elections to be conducted electronically. It would also prohibit an employer from promising or taking action against an employee for participating in a strike.
  • Democratic sponsorship. 
  • Executive Committee hearing May 19. 
• Maine LD449: Existing law requires public employers and collective bargaining agents to meet within 10 days of receiving written notice of a request for a bargaining meeting.  This applies only if the parties have not otherwise agreed in an earlier contract. This bill would eliminate that exception.
  • Democratic sponsorship. 
  • Labor and Housing Committee reported “ought to pass as amended” May 17. Moved to unfinished business on May 19. 
• Maine LD52: This bill would allow educational policies related to preparation and planning time and transfer of teachers to be subjects of collective bargaining negotiations.
  • Democratic sponsorship. 
  • Senate passed as amended May 19.  
• Maine LD555: This bill would grant most public-sector employees the right to strike. Select public safety and judicial employees would not be allowed to strike. 
  • Democratic sponsorship. 
  • Labor and Housing Committee hearing May 21. 
• Maine LD1402: This bill would remove the authority to require public employees who do not join a union to pay service fees to the union.
  • Republican sponsorship. 
  • Labor and Housing Committee reported “ought not to pass” May 18. 
• Oregon SB580: This bill would amend the law’s definition of “employment relations” to include class size and caseload limits as mandatory collective bargaining subjects for school districts.
  • Democratic sponsorship. 
  • House Business and Labor Committee work session scheduled for May 24. 

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