Bill Would Limit Labor Representation on Comp Council

Thursday, January 25, 2018 | 0

A bill moving forward in the Wisconsin Legislature would limit the number of labor representatives who can serve on the Council on Workers’ Compensation.

Rep. John Spiros

Under Assembly Bill 308, the proportion of employee representatives who represent organized labor on the council must be the same as the proportion of employees in the state who are union members, but with a minimum number of labor representatives at two.

The council now consists of five representatives of employers and five representatives of employees. There are also three representatives of workers’ compensation insurers authorized to do business in the state who serve as non-voting members. A designated employee of the Department of Workforce Development serves as chair.

The bill was introduced by Rep. John Spiros, R-Marshfield. The Assembly passed the bill on a 54-37 vote on Tuesday, advancing it to the Senate.

About 8.3% of Wisconsin workers were represented by unions last year, according to federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited by the Daily Reporter. Based on that figure, union reps would hold the minimum of two seats on the workers’ comp council.

Spiros has said the state’s Department of Workforce Development would be responsible for deciding how to choose the other three employee representatives who are not union reps.