Wisconsin governor signs sick leave bill
May 5, 2011
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has signed a bill that prohibits local governments from passing ordinances guaranteeing workers' paid sick and family leave.
The Republican measure came after a state appeals court upheld a Milwaukee ordinance requiring employers to give workers paid sick leave. Milwaukee voters overwhelmingly approved the ordinance by referendum two years ago but it's been tied up in the courts ever since.
The bill declares that statewide employee leave provisions trump local ordinances and prohibits cities, villages, towns and counties from adopting their own.
Walker, a Republican, says in a statement the bill removes another barrier to creating jobs. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democrat who ran against Walker for governor, opposes the bill, saying it could drive jobs out of the city.
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