Scott Walker Deals Another Blow to Big Labor in Wisconsin

The legislation, Senate Bill 3, prohibits state and local governments from requiring a bidder on a public works project to enter into an agreement with a labor organization. The bill also prohibits local and state governments from considering whether or not the bidder has entered into a labor agreement as a factor when awarding a project.

Republicans point to the construction of a new arena for the state’s professional basketball team the Milwaukee Bucks as a reason behind the measure. The team partnered with construction companies and firms to draft labor agreements that set wages and working conditions.

The Bucks agreed to pay workers at least $12 an hour in 2017 and $15 per hour by 2023. Wisconsin taxpayers are partly funding the $500 million arena, and conservatives complained that labor agreements shut out competition and increased taxpayer costs.

Now let's start rebuilding our infrastructure