Labor for a Fair Wisconsin
Some of Wisconsin's largest labor unions and professional groups are actively working to defeat the ban because they oppose discrimination and they worry the ban will take away bargaining rights and hurt working families.
These groups are donating, organizing volunteers, and educating their members about the harmful consequences of the ban and the effect it would have on working families.
Unions are working to defeat the ban because:
It Jeopardizes Health Care and Bargaining Rights
The ban's far-reaching second sentence jeopardizes domestic partner health insurance policies that have already been negotiated and adopted for public employees in Wisconsin, including in the La Crosse School District, the City of Madison, and the City of Milwaukee. Similar bans passed in other states are being used to strip domestic partner benefits from contracts negotiated by labor unions and to remove these benefits from the bargaining table for all future negotiations.
Michigan AFSCME and other unions had successfully bargained for a package that was scheduled for ratification, but then the Michigan Governor removed the domestic partner benefits from the final package because of the ban passed in that state.
It's an Economic Justice Issue
The ban would permanently outlaw civil unions for Wisconsin’s gay and lesbian families. Civil unions could provide families with important rights, protections, and responsibilities. Many of these benefits are employment-related benefits, like having access to worker's compensation, insurance, family leave, retirement, and other protections and benefits.
Labor unions have a long history of defending fairness for all people, and this amendment would treat people unfairly.
It's Time To Stop Using "Wedge-Issues"
Unless we reject this ban, political operatives will continue to use "wedge-issue" amendments in Wisconsin to try to distract voters from the many serious issues facing working families. This divisive agenda is being pushed by the same people who want to make Wisconsin a “right-to-work” state. Defeating this ban will send a loud and clear message that the politics of division and distraction won’t work in our state.
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