Limits on Employer Liability for Harm to Workers

Testimony of; Joanne Ricca, Legislative Research Director
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO testified on Tuesday in opposition to the first bill introduced as part of Governor Walker’s emergency special session on jobs. "Click Here" to read the entire testimony.

SS SB 1 and AB 1 (identical bills) strip away many legal protections under Wisconsin’s liability laws that protect workers and consumers from hazardous working conditions and faulty products. For example, the punitive damage award against the Mitsubishi Corporation won by the families of three ironworkers (Jeffrey Wischer, William DeGrave and Jerome Starr) who died due to reckless decisions made by the company’s agents during construction of the Miller Park stadium would have been impossible if the liability limits in SS SB 1/AB 1 were law at that time.

The testimony of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO explains many of the negative effects of this legislation in more detail. The Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce has been seeking such changes to our state’s liability law for years. Over a period of 9 ½ hours of testimony at the hearing, supporters of the bill did not promise one new job. They only made references to creating a “friendlier business climate.” The legislature is expected to vote on SS SB 1/AB 1 the week of January 17. The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO will be issuing an e-alert for contacts with legislators to oppose the bill.

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Authored by; Phil Neuenfeldt, President / Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer