The state Senate Judiciary Committee last week passed SB 1191, legislation that aims to eliminate municipalities’ attempts to sidestep Arizona’s right-to-work law, which ensures union membership remains voluntary and not a required condition of any employment. 

Some cities have adopted local ordinances to give organized labor a leg up when issuing zoning permits. The bill prohibits municipalities and counties from requiring the use of union labor in zoning and land use activities and prohibits certain requirements from being included in public works contracts.

A representative from the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce testified in support of the bill. 

“The purpose of the bill and amendment language is to ensure that competitive advantages aren’t given to union labor companies,” said Mike Huckins, the chamber’s vice president of public affairs. “These (local ordinances) have a chilling effect on the business communities and create an unfair burden on businesses, especially small businesses.”

The Arizona Building and Construction Trades Council opposed the bill. 

“This comes down to local control. It comes down to whether community leaders know best,” the Council’s Luke Douglas said. “It also could end up jeopardizing prices.”

Those in support of the bill said the bill could put downward pressure on construction costs.

“The city will sometimes attach conditions to zoning requirements, including the use of union labor workers. Tempe is demanding this as part of the development agreements,” said Jon Riches of the Goldwater Institute. “This drives up prices for consumers, infringes on basic private property rights, and gives preferences to organized labor workers.”  

Josh Umar, a representative from the American Subcontractors Association of Arizona, spoke to the legislation’s effect on small businesses. 

“Small and upcoming businesses and contractors are going to be the ones that are going to be benefiting from this,” he said. 

Jake Hinman of the Arizona Multihousing Association said the rising construction costs hurt housing consumers.

“Researchers have examined the prevailing wage and found that the rates are unbearably higher, increasing construction costs in the low-income residential products,” he said.

Other groups in support of the bill include the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Arizona Builders’ Alliance, Arizonans for Fair Contracting, and the Arizona Chapter of National Association of Industrial & Office Properties. 

Opponents include associations representing city and county governments and Living United for Change in Arizona, a progressive advocacy group. 

The bill will receive a vote of the full Senate after being considered by each party’s caucus. 

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More than 50 Arizona business groups are urging the state’s congressional delegation to reject several tax increases included in the budget bill being considered by the U.S. House. 

In a letter sent Tuesday to the delegation, the groups said, “The proposed tax increases that will pay for the massive $3.5 trillion reconciliation package will hurt Arizona businesses, employees, and consumers at a time when the state’s economy continues to grapple with the ongoing effects of the pandemic and acute workforce shortages.” 

Signers of the letter included the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry and local chambers of commerce from across the state, as well as groups representing various industries such as real estate, trucking, construction, tourism and agribusiness. 

The enormous multi-trillion-dollar budget bill is a priority of Congress’ most progressive members, who are demanding its passage as part of a deal also to pass an infrastructure bill already passed by the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support. 

A budget bill that is too large in size and scope, however, will face a difficult path in the Senate, where the Senate parliamentarian will determine how broad the bill’s policy provisions may be and where Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., have indicated their strong reticence to passing such a progressive bill. 

Sinema has already said she will not support a $3.5 trillion bill and on Monday Politico that she also opposes a Medicare prescription drug pricing scheme included in the bill. 

Arizona job creators are opposed to the bill’s many tax increases, including increases in the personal and corporate income tax rates, as well as tax increases on foreign earnings and on savings and investment and more. The bill also limits deductions taxpayers rely on to reduce their overall tax exposure. 

“This bill includes several policies that will harm small businesses,” said Chad Heinrich, Arizona state director for the National Federation of Independent Business. “Whether it’s through the elimination of stepped-up basis, limiting the Small Business Deduction, or increasing taxes on small corporations, this legislation will weaken and damage small businesses in Arizona and throughout the country. By hitting small businesses at this vulnerable time, this legislation will result in fewer jobs and less work hours for employees and reduced investment in small businesses which will lead to less economic growth.”

Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Deanna Kupcik said the bill would result in higher costs to utility ratepayers. 

“As we said in our letter, because utility providers are regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission, they must pass along the increased costs resulting from the corporate rate increase directly to consumers,” Kupcik said. “That means more dollars off the bottom line of Arizona businesses large and small.” 

If and when a bill passes the House, it will head to the Senate, where it will be considered under that chamber’s reconciliation rules, which means only a simple majority of 51 is needed for passage, rather than the usual 60 votes required to end a filibuster.

“That (Senate Majority Leader) Chuck Schumer is hoping to jam this through the Senate using reconciliation tells you all you need to know about what’s included in this bill,” Arizona Chamber President and CEO Danny Seiden said. “A bill that affects so many aspects of the U.S. economy deserves bipartisan consideration and support, which this legislation is sorely lacking. We thank Sen. Sinema for making clear to the White House that this bill is seriously flawed.”  

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When it comes to connecting job seekers to paid apprenticeships, Maricopa County does it best, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). 

The federal agency recently ranked the county No. 1 in the nation for the number of people it places into registered apprenticeship programs who received support through its . 

Now, the successful Registered Apprenticeshipprogram is expanding into new sectors, providing more opportunities to residents at a time when demand for new careers is high, county officials said. 

This is a proven path for many, including low-income adults and youth, to have a higher quality of life, said Clint Hickman, chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

“The program gives hundreds of people each year a pathway out of poverty, putting them to work right away in industries where they can build a career,” he said.

Expanding into new industry sectors beyond construction 

Up to this point, the RA program has focused primarily on building partnerships within the construction industry, including electrical and sheet metal work, pipefitting, welding, plumbing, and heat and A/C installation and repair.

The county currently is working with the Arizona Department of Economic Security to support two new apprenticeship programs in auto mechanics and IT. It’s also seeking new partnerships with companies in sectors like healthcare, insurance and information technology. 

Expanding to include apprentices from criminal justice system

The program is also increasing efforts to help individuals in the criminal justice system who often face significant challenges upon release in getting and maintaining employment, said Matt McGuire, chairman of the , which assists the supervisors in strategic planning and oversight of workforce development goals. 

The idea is to become more innovative in its approach to connect citizens to “good jobs,” McGuire said.  

Employment rate above 93 percent

DOL statistics show that the employment rate for apprenticeship participants in the county program was 93.6 percent in 2019. That’s higher than any other type of job training offered by the county, and significantly higher than the 62.2 percent employment rate for basic career services, the county said. 

During the fiscal 2019 program year, Maricopa County had 660 apprentice participants. In the fiscal 2020 program, 570 apprentices have enrolled so far. 

“This program was exactly what I needed after I was laid off from a job in the construction industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Matthew Conroy, a recent participant. “Getting paid as an electrician apprentice allows me to grow in an industry I’m passionate about, and the paycheck is helping me pay for schooling at the .”

How to get an apprenticeship 

Depending on a job seeker’s needs, Maricopa County may cover part or all the cost of the first year of an apprenticeship. There are a few ways a person can get an apprenticeship through Maricopa County’s RA program including:

• Look for jobs and services through
• Search available apprenticeships at:
• Be referred for an apprenticeship by an employer

For employers interested in offering apprenticeships Employers interested in offering apprenticeships through the county’s program can explore opportunities at:

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