Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak on Wednesday signed into law a slate of pro-labor legislation that guarantees the right of state employees to bargain collectively and raises the minimum wage. (Photo: AFSCME Local 4041/Twitter)
'Massive Win for Working People': Nevada Governor Signs Bill Giving Over 20,000 State Employees Collective Bargaining Rights
"This is a historic day for state employees and all Nevadans, as collective bargaining rights will mean a voice on the job to make meaningful changes."
With unions under assault by the Trump administration, the right-wing Supreme Court, and Republicans at the state-level, Nevada's Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak on Wednesday signed into law a slate of pro-worker bills that included legislation giving public sector workers the right to bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions.
"Americans are looking for an answer to a rigged economy that favors the wealthy, and it's clear that they are turning to unions in growing numbers."
--Lee Saunders, AFSCME
"This is a historic day for state employees and all Nevadans, as collective bargaining rights will mean a voice on the job to make meaningful changes in our workplaces and communities," said Harry Schiffman, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 4041, which represents over 17,000 Nevada public workers.
AFSCME President Lee Saunders applauded Sisolak for enshrining collective bargaining rights for public employees into Nevada law and said it's "time to make it easier all across the country for working people to join in strong unions."
"By signing this bill, Governor Sisolak demonstrates his understanding of the importance of giving working people a seat at the table and the voice on the job they deserve," Saunders said in a statement. "Americans are looking for an answer to a rigged economy that favors the wealthy, and it's clear that they are turning to unions in growing numbers."
In a press release, AFSCME said the legislation--SB 135--will give over 20,000 Nevada state workers collective bargaining rights, which the union described as "the largest expansion" of that crucial workplace power anywhere in the country over the last 16 years.
"Today marks yet another massive win for working people and the labor movement as union momentum continues to grow across the country," said AFSCME.
In addition to S.B. 135, Sisolak on Wednesday also signed into law bills to raise the minimum wage from $8.25 to $12 an hour by 2024 and require all businesses with over 50 employees to guarantee paid sick leave.
Last week, Sisolak signed legislation that would make Nevada the first state to bar employers from refusing to hire a prospective employee due to a positive test for marijuana.
The slate of pro-worker bills were hailed as powerful evidence of what union strength can accomplish at the state level, even in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling in Janus vs. AFSCME, which was viewed as an existential threat to public-sector unions.
"Across the country, more workers are coming together to demand a level playing field through unions," AFSCME said in a statement on Wednesday. "Grocery store workers, teachers, public service workers, journalists, and hotel and food service workers are joining in a wave of activism and new organizing drives."
"Unions are enjoying their highest level of public support in 15 years and presidential candidates have embraced unions at a level not seen in years," AFSCME added. "It is clear that unions are seeing increasing grassroots and political momentum, and AFSCME will continue to pursue a growth agenda in Nevada and across the country."
As Saunders put it in an interview with In These Times following the high court's Janus ruling, "Anyone writing our obituary is going to be sorely disappointed."
Urgent. It's never been this bad.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just three days to go in our Spring Campaign, we're falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
With unions under assault by the Trump administration, the right-wing Supreme Court, and Republicans at the state-level, Nevada's Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak on Wednesday signed into law a slate of pro-worker bills that included legislation giving public sector workers the right to bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions.
"Americans are looking for an answer to a rigged economy that favors the wealthy, and it's clear that they are turning to unions in growing numbers."
--Lee Saunders, AFSCME
"This is a historic day for state employees and all Nevadans, as collective bargaining rights will mean a voice on the job to make meaningful changes in our workplaces and communities," said Harry Schiffman, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 4041, which represents over 17,000 Nevada public workers.
AFSCME President Lee Saunders applauded Sisolak for enshrining collective bargaining rights for public employees into Nevada law and said it's "time to make it easier all across the country for working people to join in strong unions."
"By signing this bill, Governor Sisolak demonstrates his understanding of the importance of giving working people a seat at the table and the voice on the job they deserve," Saunders said in a statement. "Americans are looking for an answer to a rigged economy that favors the wealthy, and it's clear that they are turning to unions in growing numbers."
In a press release, AFSCME said the legislation--SB 135--will give over 20,000 Nevada state workers collective bargaining rights, which the union described as "the largest expansion" of that crucial workplace power anywhere in the country over the last 16 years.
"Today marks yet another massive win for working people and the labor movement as union momentum continues to grow across the country," said AFSCME.
In addition to S.B. 135, Sisolak on Wednesday also signed into law bills to raise the minimum wage from $8.25 to $12 an hour by 2024 and require all businesses with over 50 employees to guarantee paid sick leave.
Last week, Sisolak signed legislation that would make Nevada the first state to bar employers from refusing to hire a prospective employee due to a positive test for marijuana.
The slate of pro-worker bills were hailed as powerful evidence of what union strength can accomplish at the state level, even in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling in Janus vs. AFSCME, which was viewed as an existential threat to public-sector unions.
"Across the country, more workers are coming together to demand a level playing field through unions," AFSCME said in a statement on Wednesday. "Grocery store workers, teachers, public service workers, journalists, and hotel and food service workers are joining in a wave of activism and new organizing drives."
"Unions are enjoying their highest level of public support in 15 years and presidential candidates have embraced unions at a level not seen in years," AFSCME added. "It is clear that unions are seeing increasing grassroots and political momentum, and AFSCME will continue to pursue a growth agenda in Nevada and across the country."
As Saunders put it in an interview with In These Times following the high court's Janus ruling, "Anyone writing our obituary is going to be sorely disappointed."
With unions under assault by the Trump administration, the right-wing Supreme Court, and Republicans at the state-level, Nevada's Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak on Wednesday signed into law a slate of pro-worker bills that included legislation giving public sector workers the right to bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions.
"Americans are looking for an answer to a rigged economy that favors the wealthy, and it's clear that they are turning to unions in growing numbers."
--Lee Saunders, AFSCME
"This is a historic day for state employees and all Nevadans, as collective bargaining rights will mean a voice on the job to make meaningful changes in our workplaces and communities," said Harry Schiffman, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 4041, which represents over 17,000 Nevada public workers.
AFSCME President Lee Saunders applauded Sisolak for enshrining collective bargaining rights for public employees into Nevada law and said it's "time to make it easier all across the country for working people to join in strong unions."
"By signing this bill, Governor Sisolak demonstrates his understanding of the importance of giving working people a seat at the table and the voice on the job they deserve," Saunders said in a statement. "Americans are looking for an answer to a rigged economy that favors the wealthy, and it's clear that they are turning to unions in growing numbers."
In a press release, AFSCME said the legislation--SB 135--will give over 20,000 Nevada state workers collective bargaining rights, which the union described as "the largest expansion" of that crucial workplace power anywhere in the country over the last 16 years.
"Today marks yet another massive win for working people and the labor movement as union momentum continues to grow across the country," said AFSCME.
In addition to S.B. 135, Sisolak on Wednesday also signed into law bills to raise the minimum wage from $8.25 to $12 an hour by 2024 and require all businesses with over 50 employees to guarantee paid sick leave.
Last week, Sisolak signed legislation that would make Nevada the first state to bar employers from refusing to hire a prospective employee due to a positive test for marijuana.
The slate of pro-worker bills were hailed as powerful evidence of what union strength can accomplish at the state level, even in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling in Janus vs. AFSCME, which was viewed as an existential threat to public-sector unions.
"Across the country, more workers are coming together to demand a level playing field through unions," AFSCME said in a statement on Wednesday. "Grocery store workers, teachers, public service workers, journalists, and hotel and food service workers are joining in a wave of activism and new organizing drives."
"Unions are enjoying their highest level of public support in 15 years and presidential candidates have embraced unions at a level not seen in years," AFSCME added. "It is clear that unions are seeing increasing grassroots and political momentum, and AFSCME will continue to pursue a growth agenda in Nevada and across the country."
As Saunders put it in an interview with In These Times following the high court's Janus ruling, "Anyone writing our obituary is going to be sorely disappointed."