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Madison -- The proposed right to work bill moving quickly through the Legislature will affect only private-sector unions.

The proposal only affects workers in private businesses, both the language of the bill and comments from Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau show.

The measure would prohibit unions and private businesses from reaching contracts that require workers to pay labor dues or fees.

So police and firefighter unions in the state can still require workers to pay money to unions even if the workers choose not to join. Other public employee unions were previously barred from doing this by Gov. Scott Walker's 2011 Act 10 law.

Fitzgerald acknowledged Friday that Republicans have considered taking this step with public safety unions as well but for now at least are not doing so.