Steve Rue News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

State data shows there are more than 21,000 active apprentices in Ohio - including carpenters, cement masons, construction laborers, and electricians, among more than one hundred occupations. A new report finds apprenticeships deliver big benefits for communities and employers. Research shows apprentices earn more than comparable workers, with an average starting salary of $50,000 per year and estimated earnings of $300,000 over the course of a lifetime. ...

Workers at the Tacoma Art Museum are celebrating a unique union victory that could be a model for other museums. The 26 members of Tacoma Art Museum Workers United voted unanimously in favor of the union in November. It's Washington state's first cross-department union in an art museum, although they're still seeking to include two security workers. ...

A lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's collective near-total bargaining ban for most public workers is by some seen as a way to bolster the state's beleaguered educator workforce. A coalition of unions filed a lawsuit last week seeking to overturn Act 10, which places heavy limitations on negotiating rights for public-sector unions. The law has been in place a dozen years and was a major priority for conservative lawmakers. ...

Minnesota is two years away from enacting its new paid leave law and while the debate over costs has resurfaced, some in the small business community are not worried. The law was adopted in the most recent legislative session with plenty of fanfare, following debate over the potential effects on businesses. It allows up to 12 weeks of paid family leave or 12 weeks of medical leave. ...