Wolf rallies with unions against legislation
The rally was called by the Teamsters. Unions fear the bills would restrict organizing.
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HARRISBURG — Gov. Wolf spoke briefly Tuesday afternoon at a rally of labor activists protesting legislation that some argue could weaken unions in Pennsylvania.
"You're not just going to be talking about yourselves or your own union. You're going to be talking about the rights and the opportunities for every working person in this commonwealth," Wolf said in encouraging the protesters to continue with their fight.
He added, "What you're defending here is something that gets to the heart of the lives of every Pennsylvanian."
Protesters covered many of the steps outside the Capitol, many holding signs. They stood for a little more than a half-hour in 80-degree heat as they listened to union leaders and legislators.
The Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters, which organized the rally, said members met with officials to lobby against the bills.
One bill, known as the "Freedom of Employment Act," would make it illegal for employers to require employees to join a union as a condition of employment or to prohibit them from joining. Such measures are often called "right-to-work" legislation, and unions say they are designed to make organizing more difficult. The bill has not been scheduled for hearings or votes.
Another bill, known as the "Protection of Public Employee Wage Act," would prohibit public employers from collecting "money intended for political or other inappropriate purposes from the wages of public employees." Some public-employee unions fear that provision could be used to weaken their political power. That bill has passed the Senate and was referred to the House state government committee in February.