4/6/17 SUPPORT HB3420 and SB 1040: House and Senate versions of the same bill. This law would ensure that private sector labor organizations and employers throughout state may enter into union security agreements to full extent allowed by federal law.
Rationale: This is a response to a Freedom Foundation lawsuit in Harney County. It doesn’t impact us, but might make a difference to some private sector workers as long as there is no national change to the National Labor Relations Act making union security clauses illegal. Right now the AFL is not planning to draw any attention to the bill, but we want to be on board supporting this in case the legislative strategy changes.
4/6/17 SUPPORT College for All Act: Eliminates tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities for those making up to $125,000 and makes community college tuition- and fee-free for all. This legislation would provide at least $41 billion per year to states and tribes to eliminate undergraduate tuition and fees at public colleges and universities and institutions of higher education controlled by tribes. Under this legislation, more than 80% of students from families making up to $125,000 a year would be able to attend a public four-year college or university, or tribal college, tuition and fee free. All students- regardless of income- would also be able to attend community colleges tuition and feefree. The federal government would pay 67% of the cost, with the states required to pick up the rest of the tab. The funding would come from a Wall Street transaction tax. This is Bernie Sanders’ new version of the proposal he talked about during the campaign. National AAUP put Sanders’ staff in touch with us for an endorsement.