| Legislative |
TWC and UC bills pass the legislature
Legislation submitted by the labor and man-
agement representatives to the Worker's Compensation and
Unemployment Compensation Advisory Councils were approved by both
houses of the legislature in November.
Senate Bill 323, which passed unanimously by both the state Senate and Assembly, will increase disability rates under Worker's Compensation at the anticipated cost of living rate over the next two years. The measure allows the maximum payment for temporary total disability to increase from the current $509 to $523 on January 1, 1998, and to $538 on January 1, 1999. The bill allows maximum payments for permanent partial disability to increase from the current $174 to $179 in 1998 and $184 in 1999. Workers will also begin receiving the adverse medical report at the same time it is given to the employer. In addition, a newly simplified wage formula will make employer payments easier to audit.
SB 327, which also passed both the state Assembly and Senate unanimously, allows for an increase in the maximum weekly benefit rate for Unemployment Compensation from the current $282 to $290 on January 1, 1998 and to $297 on January 1, 1999. In addition, the bill allows more low-wage workers to qualify for Unemployment.
The labor and management representatives of the Worker's Compensation and Unemployment Compensation Advisory Councils negotiate changes to Wisconsin Worker's Compensation and Unemployment Compensation laws. Only agreed upon bills are submitted to the legislature for approval and the legislature is asked not to amend any measure in an effort to maintain the integrity of the negotiation process.
Preliminary results from the state
Department
Preliminary results from the state Department of Workforce Development's
Prevailing Wage survey show good rates for Laborer
classifications and type of work state wide in 1998.
For Building, General Laborer rates prevailed in 20 counties and were well within 1$ of contract rate in 22 more, including the high volume counties of Brown, Eau Claire, Dane, Kenosha, La Crosse, Milwaukee, Waukesha and Walworth.
For state Department of Transportation work, the outlook for next year is even better with General Laborer contract wage and benefit rates prevailing in 57 of 72 counties, and within $1 of the contract rate in all but one of the remaining 15 counties.
Laborer Sewer and Water rates will also remain competitive in many parts of the state next year with nearly half the counties reporting at or within one dollar of the contract rate.
While Laborer rates for local street and miscellaneous paving prevailed or were within one dollar of contract rate in only 16 counties, the average $15.30 laborer rate across the remaining 56 counties is in some cases 50% higher than rates once set by municipalities.
Final determinations will be issued by DWD and take effect January 1, 1998.