Stateline Stories

Illinois Follows Nevada with Highest Unemployment

State unemployment numbers fluctuate and once again Nevada tops the country, but the state that comes in second is new.

With Big Changes, Can Labor Grow Again?

Labor union membership has been in steady decline for decades. Leaders are finally considering aggressive, unconventional strategies to grow their numbers. Is it too late?

Should States Get Out of the Booze Business?

Pennsylvania is as close as it has ever come to privatizing liquor sales following a House vote in March. Tricky questions await the Senate as it considers whether to modernize or dismantle the state’s multifarious system.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Retains Conservative Tilt

The Wisconsin high court’s perceived conservative tilt will remain after a justice was re-elected in Tuesday’s vote.

Balance of Power, Future of Key Issues at Stake in Wisconsin Court Race

Two years after one of the most contentious and bruising Supreme Court elections any state has ever seen, Wisconsin voters will return to the polls Tuesday to cast their votes in another judicial election.

The Latest in Office Supplies: Treadmills

Oregon state workers may test treadmill desks as a way to improve health and increase productivity.

Michigan Employee Unions Race to Beat Right-to-Work

Unions try to beat the clock and set long-term contracts before Michigan’s right-to-work law takes effect March 28. Legislature may respond with cuts to education.

Should Public Workers Have to Live Where They Work?

Municipal residency requirements have gradually become less common. State efforts to ban them can get ugly as cities fight to maintain their middle class population base.

Next Wave of State Minimum Wage Proposals Would ‘Index’ To Inflation

Nineteen states and D.C. already offer an hourly wage higher than the current federal $7.25 rate, and that could go even higher as several states weigh increases.

NFL Can’t Ask About Sexual Orientation, Says New York Attorney General

The NFL is in hot water with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman after reportedly asking potential college recruits about their sexual orientation. But less than half the states protect employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Governors Promote Employment for People With Disabilities

A yearlong initiative at the National Governors Association examines the roles that states and businesses can play in finding jobs for people with disabilities.

Labor Conference Mulls Big Questions About Future of Movement

Unions are considering ways to collaborate with community organizations that represent workers in a different way.

Illinois State Government Narrowly Averts Labor Strike

After more than 15 months of negotiations, Democratic Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois’ largest state-worker union have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract.

State and Local Government Employment Trends

State and local governments have shed 681,000 jobs since their peak in August 2008, by far the steepest drop of any recession in the last 50 years.

Pay Boost on the Horizon for Some State Workers

Far fewer people are working for state governments than before the recession began, but those who remain may get modest salary increases this year.

America’s Capital of Divided Government

As most states turn redder or bluer, Maine goes bright purple.

Pennsylvania Governor Wants State to Exit Liquor Business, Use Proceeds for Schools

Corbett on Wednesday unveiled a plan that would remove Pennsylvania from liquor business and funnel to schools proceeds from the sale of alcohol licenses.

Christie Vetoes Minimum Wage Hike, Offers Compromise

Governor Chris Christie has conditionally vetoed legislation that would have boosted New Jersey’s minimum wage. Instead, he proposed a compromise that New Jersey lawmakers appear unlikely to accept.

Issue to Watch: Collective Bargaining

While this year’s legislative battles in the states over collective bargaining rights are likely to be more restrained than previous years, the legislation put forward would still have a significant impact on employer-labor relationships, if passed.

Union Membership Continues Steady Decline in 2012

Union membership decreased nationally in 2012, including in traditional union strongholds.

The Uncertain Effects of Right-to-Work

Michigan and Indiana endured divisive and bruising political battles to enact right-to-work legislation in 2012. It will be years before the full impact on economic development and on labor unions becomes clear.

Election Year Brings Big Changes in State Policy

From battles in the legislatures to battles at the polls, Stateline reporters traveled all over the country in 2012 reporting on news from the states.

New Year Will Bring Higher Minimum Wages in 10 States

Nine states will adjust the wages to accommodate the rising costs of living, as required by state laws, while Rhode Island will implement a law signed by the governor in June. The wage hikes range between 10 and 35 cents per hour.

Amid Protests, Michigan Leaders Press for Quick Enactment of Right-to-Work Legislation

Michigan would be the 24^th state to pass legislation making it illegal to require workers to pay union fees as a condition of their employment.

New Jersey Lawmakers Send Minimum Wage Boost to Governor

Minimum wage workers in New Jersey would get a major raise under legislation that’s been sent to the governor’s desk. But it is unlikely Governor Chris Christie will sign the bill as is.

Illinois Union Spars with Governor, Legislature

The 40,000 Illinois state workers who belong to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees found themselves in unchartered territory last week after Governor Pat Quinn announced the termination of their contract after almost a year of negotiations.

Unions Make Strong Showing at the Polls

Labor won big contests in Indiana, California and New Hampshire, while results were mixed in Michigan.

Infographic: Ballot Measures Gave Voters Say on Divisive Issues

Voters in 38 states will decide 174 statewide ballot measures on Election Day. Are any on your ballot?

Report: States Face Growing Cybersecurity Threats

State governments are struggling to ward off millions of increasingly complex threats to the security of their technological systems each week, according to a new report about cybersecurity in the states from Deloitte and the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.

Hawaii Teachers Halt Labor Negotiations, Escalating Conflict

Strong unions and a liberal governor might seem well-positioned to get along with each other, but it isn’t working out that way in Hawaii.

Michigan Unions Seek Constitutional Protection

A ballot measure in Michigan would give labor’s collective bargaining rights an almost impregnable status.

Feds Slam Wisconsin Public-Private Partnership for Economic Development

Transferring control of Wisconsin’s economic development efforts from a state agency to a new public-private partnership was a focus of Governor Scott Walker’s campaign and one of the first things he accomplished when he took office.

N.J. Lawmaker to Replacement Refs: ‘Keep Out’

New Jersey’s Senate president plans to introduce legislation that would ban the use of replacement officials in professional sporting events played on state soil.

Public Strikes Explained: Why There Aren’t More of Them

Public employees have the right to strike in several of the nation’s largest states. But they rarely take the dramatic step of walking off the job.

California Overhauls Workers' Compensation

A new law in California is expected to reduce costs to employers while increasing payouts to some workers injured on the job.

Wisconsin Judge Strikes Down Collective Bargaining Restrictions

A county judge in Wisconsin has thrown out most of Governor Scott Walker’s law that severely restricts collective bargaining for public employees, throwing into question changes to contracts already negotiated under the year-old law.

GOP Targets State Construction Labor Projects

Nearly a dozen Republican governors have already made good on a promise that the GOP laid out as a national priority in Tampa last month: to end a policy that businesses say gives labor unions an unfair advantage when bidding on state construction projects.

Michigan’s Emergency Managers Seen as Major Threat by Labor

In Michigan, state-appointed emergency managers can assume vast powers over distressed localities. The state thinks that’s necessary. Localities and labor think it’s undemocratic.

S.C. State Workers Challenge Health Insurance Hike

This year, the South Carolina legislature budgeted to give state workers, university employees and teachers their first raise in four years in exchange for increasing what they contribute to their retirement plans.

Even in Hard Times, States Find It Difficult To Recruit Talent

As state government hiring picks back up, competing with the private sector for highly skilled workers is becoming a challenge for some agencies.

Continuing U.S. Trend, North Carolina Helps Military Spouses With Licensing

Governor Bev Perdue signed into law Tuesday (July 24) legislation aimed at helping military spouses land jobs after they arrive at North Carolina military bases, continuing a trend in statehouses to reduce barriers of entry into the workforce for military spouses across the U.S. Under the law, military spouses tr

Detroit and Its Unions Fight Over Work Rules

As Detroit’s workforce shrinks, labor and city leaders face tough questions about how to make do with the employees they have left. Antiquated work rules are at the heart of the dispute.

All Eyes on U.S. Supreme Court

States await key decisions this week from the U.S. Supreme Court on health care, immigration and elections.

Post-Recall Wisconsin Open for Business, Governor Says

The recent recall election in Wisconsin that let Governor Scott Walker keep his job was apparently also good for businesses in the state, or so says the governor.

Civil Service Changes Gain a Foothold

Three states have made major changes to the personnel policies that govern the public workforce.

Public-Sector Issues Erupt in Presidential Campaign

President Obama and GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney both found themselves over the weekend explaining comments they made involving the public sector.

Walker Win in Wisconsin Tops Historic Primary Day

In one of the busiest election days of 2012 and one of the most historic, voters in Wisconsin decided not to recall their Republican governor who set off a national debate by curtailing collective bargaining rights for state public employees. Voters in six other states also went to the polls.

Governor Battles Unions in Maine

Governor Paul LePage recently called Maine’s state workers “about as corrupt as you can be.” They’re not pleased with him, either.

GOP Warns States: Get Fiscal Houses in Order

As U.S. markets continue to react to Europe’s economic turmoil, some Republican members of Congress wonder if similar debts and the resulting chaos could happen in certain states.

States May Boost Salaries, With a Catch

Long-awaited salary increases or bonuses will be tied to “ifs” and “buts” for state employees in Arizona and possibly Virginia.

Should States Be in the Liquor Business?

Several states that tightly control liquor sales are debating whether to turn them over to the private sector.

Is it Really a Great Day in South Carolina?

Governor Nikki Haley’s mandatory telephone greeting for state employees has gotten mixed reviews since it went into effect in September, but the governor sees the policy as a wholly positive development.

A Bill of Rights for State Workers?

California lawmakers are debating whether to enshrine a list of protections for state workers in state law. Some believe state employee unions already have more than enough power.

Doing Union Work on the Government Clock?

MANAGEMENT BEAT: Arizona debates banning localities from allowing government employees to work for their unions during normal business hours.

Connecticut's Pro-Worker Measures Leave Business Feeling Resentful

HARTFORD - Last year, Democrats in Connecticut required private companies to give paid sick days to thousands of mostly low-wage employees. This year, they are considering raising the minimum wage from $8.25 to $9.75 an hour. Business interests are crying foul.

Oregon Looks to Shrink Middle Management

An unusual mix of Republicans, Democrats and labor leaders are working together to restructure state government.

Graduate Students Campaign to Unionize

Can a graduate research assistant be a public employee? States and universities are struggling to sort that question out.

Gallup Poll Shows Drop in Public Employment

MANAGEMENT BEAT: Federal, state and local government employment dropped in 2011 as a percentage of overall U.S. employment. State-by-state tallies don't break down along partisan or ideological lines.

States Push to Shake Up Personnel Practices

Civil service rules that haven't changed in decades are being re-assessed by several governors bent on major changes in the system.

In Wisconsin, Assessing a New Labor Law’s Impact

RACINE, Wisconsin - A year after union protests swept Wisconsin's Capitol, labor and management are still grappling with the collective bargaining law that prompted the backlash. Leaders of local governments and schools enjoy having more options to balance their budgets, but state funding cuts often outweigh the benefits.

Seven Questions for Michigan Governor Rick Snyder

Rick Snyder hasn't followed the confrontational path of many Republican governors elected in 2010. In a Stateline interview, he explains some of his strategies.

South Dakota Weighs Ban on Public Sector Collective Bargaining

MANAGEMENT BEAT: As the debate on a new labor law heats up, the bill's sponsor unexpectedly switches sides.

Governor Promises Tough Session for South Carolina Unions

ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: In this year's legislative session, Republican Governor Nikki Haley says, "We'll make the unions understand full well that they are not needed, not wanted and not welcome in the state of South Carolina."

Haslam Asks For Overhaul to 'Broken' Civil Service System

TODAY'S TAKE: Governor Bill Haslam wants to make it easier to hire, fire and promote state workers. His plans would overturn longstanding rules intended to fight patronage.

The Uncertain Political Consequences of 'Right-to-Work'

MANAGEMENT BEAT: As Indiana's controversial labor bill heads toward final passage, Republicans and Democrats both think the issue will play to their electoral advantage.

'Right-to-Work' Raises a Ruckus in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS - Is it fair to require workers to pay union fees? That's the polarizing issue this winter at the state Capitol in Indianapolis.

Indiana House Fines Absent Democrats $1,000 a Day

MANAGEMENT BEAT: A Democratic boycott has once again stalled all action in the Indiana House. Republicans are hoping that steep fines will jolt the House back into motion.

Unions Adapt to New Rules, Even as They Fight to Reverse Them

PART FOUR OF FIVE: The most controversial state issue of 2011 — the fight over collective bargaining and other rights for public-sector employees — isn’t going away in 2012.

After a Contentious Political Year, Republicans May Moderate Their Approach

PART ONE OF FIVE: With the 2012 election drawing near, Republican leaders in much of the country are sounding less combative on the legislative front than they did in 2011.

'Right to Work' Stalls Indiana Legislative Session Before It Begins

TODAY'S TAKE: Democrats in the Indiana House of Representatives are picking up where they left off last year - by refusing to turn up for votes and denying majority Republicans a quorum in protest of "right-to-work" legislation.

Minimum Wage Set to Rise in Eight States

TODAY'S TAKE: Workers in eight states will see slightly larger paychecks beginning January 1, thanks to laws requiring minimum wages to rise with inflation.

Short-Staffed and Budget-Bare, Overwhelmed State Agencies Are Unable to Keep Up

PART ONE OF THREE: States across the country are seeing growing backlogs of work, as shrinking staffs struggle to meet rising demand for some services. From public housing to crime labs, restaurant inspections to court systems, four years of layoffs, furloughs and hiring freezes are beginning to take a toll.

Indiana Ready to Restart Battle Over Union Rights

TODAY'S TAKE: Republican legislative leaders intend to make Indiana a "right-to-work" state next year, all but ensuring that this year's bruising contests over union rights will return to the Midwest in 2012.

Washington Liquor Vote May Open Doors Elsewhere

TODAY'S TAKE: Washington voters removed their state from the liquor business on Tuesday (November 8), giving momentum to similar efforts in other places, including one just across the border in Oregon.

A New Pay System for Wisconsin State Workers

MANAGEMENT BEAT: Wisconsin's new compensation plan for state employees, the first in decades to be drafted without significant worker participation, freezes pay and creates a controversial new method of rewarding employee performance.

Drive to Reverse SB 5 in Ohio Is Labor's Last, Best Hope for 2011 Win

A law enacted by Republicans in Ohio this spring represents one of the most dramatic challenges to organized labor anywhere in the nation in 2011. But it may be repealed by voters next week.

Why Layoff Notices From States Are More Common Than Layoffs

MANAGEMENT BEAT: The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is in the process of issuing 26,000 layoff notices. But far fewer workers are likely to actually lose their jobs.

State Minimum Wage Rates to Go Up With Inflation in 2012

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: Minimum wage workers will see a bump in their paychecks in 10 states that tie annual increases in their state wages to increases in the cost of living.

Labor Scuffles Continue in New York and Connecticut

MANAGEMENT BEAT: Most of the Connecticut employees laid off as a result of a battle over contract concessions this summer have since been rehired. Meanwhile, New York sent 3,500 workers layoff notices after rank-and-file members of a large union rejected an agreement last week.

Union Vote Sets Stage for 3,500 Layoffs in New York

TODAY'S TAKE: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says he will begin notifying 3,500 state workers today (September 28) that they are being laid off. The move comes after a major public employee union rejected Cuomo's contract offer.

Wisconsin Unions Allow Bargaining Status to Lapse

MANAGEMENT BEAT: Unions protested this spring when Wisconsin passed a new law restricting collective bargaining rights. Now, the major unions representing the bulk of state workers are deciding not to get certified to bargain for what they're still allowed to under the law.

As Four-Day Workweek Ends, Utah Opens on Fridays

The nation's most ambitious experiment with an alternative work schedule is over. While many public sector employers offer four-day schedules to some employees, Utah was the only state to try it for most of its workforce.

Pay Cuts in Question in Michigan, Illinois

MANAGEMENT BEAT: A Michigan court orders millions in back wages for pay cuts from 2010, while Illinois Governor Pat Quinn fights for his right to cut - and in some cases completely withhold - state employee pay.

On Second Try, Connecticut Unions Ratify Contracts

MANAGEMENT BEAT: State workers avert 5,500 layoffs by agreeing to a wage freeze and major changes to retirement and health care benefits.

Ohio Republicans Backtrack on Labor Law

TODAY'S TAKE: Republican leaders in Ohio now say they will compromise on a tough new collective bargaining law that they approved earlier this year - and which labor unions are working to repeal in November. "I hate what is about to happen here," the House speaker says.

Michigan Unions Try a Unified Approach

MANAGEMENT BEAT: As labor negotiations gear up in Michigan, most of the state's unions are planning to band together on bargaining for a universal contract. They're also working together to push alternative ideas for cost-cutting in state government.

New York State Workers Mull Strength of Layoff Protections

MANAGEMENT BEAT: As the ratification process for contracts swings into full gear, some state workers worry that they are being asked to choose between layoffs or more layoffs.

Connecticut Unions Seek to Avert Widespread Layoffs

MANAGEMENT BEAT: Rank-and-file state employees in Connecticut unexpectedly turned down new contracts in June, rejecting an agreement between union leaders and Governor Dannel Malloy. Now a high-stakes re-vote will determine the fate of 6,500 positions.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn Blocks Scheduled Raises

MANAGEMENT BEAT: Illinois state workers had expected a 2 percent bump ... thorny contract negotiations in Hawaii end with the governor's best-and-final offer … unused mobile devices in Louisiana, and other government management news.

Oregon Governor Stands Firm on Worker Health Care

TODAY'S TAKE: Oregon is one of a handful of states in which current state employees pay nothing toward health insurance for either individual or family plans. Governor John Kitzhaber wants to change that.

Layoffs Loom in Connecticut, New York

MANAGEMENT BEAT: High-stakes deals between government and public employees in New York and Connecticut hinge on ratification by rank-and-file union members. Thousands of state jobs hang in the balance.

Summer Jobs Programs Get Private Fund Infusion

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: States and cities may not have money to fund summer job programs, but the country's largest employer does. Walmart has committed $25 million on youth programs this summer.

Will California Legislators Continue Getting Paychecks?

MANAGEMENT BEAT: Was the budget that the California Legislature passed last week - the one that Governor Jerry Brown immediately vetoed - truly "balanced"? The answer may determine whether lawmakers get paid or not.

Anti-Union Republicans Seize Their Moment

Republicans long accustomed to fighting against public-sector labor unions finally achieved power in states where they had been in the minority for years. And they made the unions pay for it.Last in a weeklong series

State Workers Target New Jersey Dems

TODAY'S TAKE: New Jersey state workers are furious over a legislative plan that would dramatically increase the cost of the benefits they receive, doubling or even tripling their annual health insurance fees.

In an Era of One-Party Rule, Republicans Pass a Sweeping State Agenda

Republicans held enormous political leverage in state legislatures this year. They used it to shrink spending, take on labor unions and push long-stalled social legislation in one of the most eventful legislative years in memory.Part one of a weeklong series.

In Louisiana, Privatization Schemes Hit a Snag

MANAGEMENT BEAT: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is pushing to outsource an array of government functions to the private sector. But his efforts lost momentum this week.

In New York, State Worker Layoffs to Begin July 15

TODAY'S TAKE: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has started the process of laying off up to 9,800 state workers, according to a memo obtained by a newspaper in Albany.

Montana Employee Unions File Unfair Labor Practice Complaint

MANAGEMENT BEAT: Public employees in Montana reached agreement on a pay increase deal with Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer, but the Republican legislature has opted not to honor it.

State Workers to Pay More for Health Benefits

Whatever the result of this year's contentious debate over collective bargaining and pay for public workers, one thing is certain: Health care coverage for state employees is going to change for good.