Arizona State AFL-CIO calls for WorkerUs Bill of Rights ballot initiative. ************************ The Arizona AFL-CIO is circulating petitions to place an Arizona WorkerUs Bill of Rights on the November 1996 general election ballot. Organizers plan to collect 250,000 signatures statewide between now and the deadline for filing petitions in July 1996. They also plan to register tens of thousands of new voters. The initiative combines several proposals which have no hope of being heard in an extremist anti-worker state legislature. If passed, the proposals will become part of the stateUs constitution. *Establishes a state minimum wage covering all workers equal to 50 percent of the stateUs average wage. This provision will increase the minimum wage to $5.84 in 1997. It is expected that will bring about a large boost in the state average wage, leading to a second large increase in the minimum wage in 1998 to nearly $7 per hour. *Increases workers compensation benefits to 75% of the workers wages and benefits prior to the on-the-job injury and institutes an annual cost-of-living adjustment for those with long-term disabilities. *Prohibits employers from firing workers without just cause *Extend eligiblity for unemployment compensation to all workers and increases weekly benefits. *Provides that employers who receive economic development incentives from local government who subsequently close down and move operations to another state must return the subsidies they received and provide job training, health care costs, and supplemental unemployment benefits for 11 months to laid-off workers. *Guarantee private and public employees the right to organize. *************************** Progressive pro-labor groups are organizing to support the AFL-CIO initiative. Contact Andy English, [EMAIL PROTECTED], for more information.
