Union bill opposed by Casey
WASHINGTON — Stepping into a heated political battle, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey is urging Republican leaders of Pennsylvania’s legislature not to move forward on a bill that would make it harder for labor unions to collect dues and political action contributions through payroll deductions.
In an interview with The Associated Press, the Democratic senator expressed concern that the legislation could be quickly pushed through in an election year with the support of conservative groups and major business associations.
In a letter Wednesday to state Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, and state House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, Casey said the bill could undermine unions’ ability to bargain collectively.
“I think we have to be cognizant in states where this kind of threat was underestimated, it didn’t turn out very well for workers,” Casey told the AP, citing the cases of Michigan and Wisconsin, where GOP-controlled legislatures passed similar right-to-work laws. “The real goal here is political and ideological, to weaken workers’ right to fight for better wages and benefits.”
The other U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, Republican Pat Toomey, has not spoken out on the issue.
The identical bills in the Pennsylvania House and Senate would prevent unions from negotiating the automatic deductions into labor contracts, forcing the unions to spend money and time collecting millions of dollars in contributions from public-sector union members.
Gov. Tom Corbett has pledged to sign the bill if passed.
