Labor & Employment (Collective Bargaining)

HB 1879 amends Pennsylvania's Public Employe Relations Act to clarify that public employers cannot negotiate over certain personal employee data as part of collective bargaining. The bill specifically prohibits bargaining about Social Security numbers, driver's license details, bank information, health data, home addresses, phone numbers, and personal email addresses - except where already covered by existing collective bargaining agreements. This directly affects public sector unions and employers across Pennsylvania, including state and local government workers and employees of nonprofit organizations covered under the Act. The change takes immediate effect upon passage, restricting the scope of topics subject to negotiation.

This bill prohibits Pennsylvania municipalities from regulating or enforcing mandates related to employer policies or practices (such as wages, hiring, scheduling, or workplace rules) for private businesses. It directly affects private employers across the state by preventing local governments from imposing such requirements. Key exceptions include mandates for municipal employees, provisions under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, and collective bargaining agreements. Violating the prohibition after January 1, 2015, voids the ordinance, and affected businesses can seek court-ordered relief, damages, and reasonable expenses like attorney fees.

HB 466 prohibits public employers from deducting wages to fund political contributions made by employee unions, except for existing collective bargaining agreements in place before the law took effect. It directly affects public employee unions and their ability to use payroll deductions for political activities. The bill adds a new provision banning such deductions in new or renewed contracts while allowing pre-existing agreements to continue. It exempts employees covered by the Policemen and Firemen Collective Bargaining Act, who are generally prohibited from striking.

SB 961, the Freedom in Public Contracting Act, prohibits Pennsylvania state and local governments from requiring contractors on public works projects to use union-represented workers, pay union dues, recognize unions, or follow specific apprenticeship or wage/benefit programs. It directly affects contractors bidding on government construction projects (like roads or buildings) by banning discriminatory contract terms based on union status or participation in union programs. The law allows affected contractors to sue a government body in court to stop violations and seek damages or legal fees. It takes effect 60 days after enactment, with exceptions only for federally mandated prevailing wages or state minimum wage laws.