Bill Tracker
House Bill 299
Posted on May 2, 2023
House Bill 299 passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by a vote of 116-85 on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, bringing Pennsylvania’s public employees one step closer to being covered by the same protections that private sector workers enjoy under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA).
“AFSCME Council 13 members have fought alongside their fellow workers on this issue for decades now, and we are thankful to finally see some meaningful progress,” AFSCME Council 13 Executive Director Henderson said following the passage of HB 299.
“This is a major victory, but as always, there is more work to do.”
The bill now goes to the State Senate, and AFSCME members intend to keep the pressure on lawmakers to get this overdue policy on the governor’s desk.
There is no price on human life, and the cost of not passing this bill is far greater than any dollar amount.
Just the week before, a member of AFSCME Local 2835 working for the Schuylkill Municipal Authority was killed on the job – that member’s family deserves a proper investigation, and all workers deserve maximum efforts to ensure such a tragedy can never happen again. If that worker had been doing the same kind of work for a private contractor, they would have been covered by OSHA.
Council 13 urges Pennsylvanians to make their voices heard and let state senators know that we can no longer treat public sector workers like second class citizens, and we must ensure they have the same basic protections as others.
House Bill 129 – Eliminating In-Person UC Hearings
Posted on June 30, 2022
HB 129 seeks to eliminate in-person Unemployment Compensation (UC) hearings and require all hearings to be conducted by phone or video conference. This would be a detriment to not only the hardworking union members at the Office of UC, but to the Pennsylvanians who rely on their services, often in their most difficult hour.
For these reasons, AFSCME Council 13 urges opposition to HB 129:
Lack of access to technology and barriers in skill level: Due to both financial restraints and geographic location, not all Pennsylvanians can be expected to have adequate access to Internet and the required technology for virtual hearings. Beyond that, not everyone is comfortable using such technology, which could seriously hinder their ability to make a compelling case.
Technological difficulties even when one does have access: While hearings were conducted virtually as a necessity at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has presented many technical and practical challenges along the way, just like many of us have experienced with remote working and virtual meetings. Something as important as the outcome of a Pennsylvanian’s unemployment hearing should not be subject to such impairments.
Challenges to properly conducted hearings: Permanent virtual hearings would create undue difficulty for referees to make credible determinations for claimants or employers, and for claimants to adequately present evidence and supporting documents. When hearings are held in person, documents may be submitted on the day of the hearing and can be presented by both employers and workers in a compelling fashion. When hearings are held by phone or video, documentary evidence must be submitted far in advance of the hearing so that it can be given to all parties for review. Because of this new administrative constraint, employers and workers may be losing out on the opportunity to present critical evidence that supports their case.
Obstructions to making a credible case over the phone or on video: Even a video conference does not allow for the same kind of nuanced communication that an in-person meeting can provide, like body language and eye contact, which makes it difficult to make one’s case to the best of their ability. Also, foreign language translation is more challenging to conduct over phone or video.
Threats to the livelihoods of Pennsylvanians: Passage of HB 129 would present a higher likelihood that UC claimants would go without desperately needed income support due to incorrect disqualifications that have already resulted in thousands of unresolved claims. This ultimately requires these claimants and involved parties to meet for in-person appeals.
House Bill 71 – Restricting State Revenue
Posted on April 19, 2022
HB 71 is misleadingly labeled as “The Taxpayer Protection Act” or “Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)” and threatens to severely limit the ability of the state government to collect and reserve revenue – revenue that funds the jobs of AFSCME members and other vital public programs and resources.
House Bill 1976 – Public Sector OSHA
Posted on April 19, 2022
Senate Bill 310 – Public Sector OSHA
Posted on April 19, 2022
SB 310 would provide workplace standards of health and safety similar to those of OSHA for public sector employees. Pennsylvania’s public employees do not currently have these kinds of protections, and they are long overdue.
House Bill 2272 – Liquor Privatization
Posted on January 21, 2022
HB 2272 seeks to privatize the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), which would jeopardize union jobs in the agency and state liquor stores while disrupting wine and liquor sales in Pennsylvania.