The four bills also would allow taxpayers to bring a special action against a state agency or political subdivision if collective bargaining occurs, make it tougher for unions to deduct dues though members' public paychecks and ban compensation of public employees for union work while on the job.
The Senate Government Reform Committee passed the bills 4-2 along party lines on Wednesday. The bills next go to vote before the full Senate.
Arizona's proposals come as Republican Gov. Jan Brewer is pushing a $53.7million plan to give raises to certain state employees who forgo merit protections as part of a broader proposal to change the state's personnel system. Brewer previously has limited union efforts at the state-employee level.
On Wednesday, the bills drew the ire of union representatives and Democrats, who characterized it as a full-on assault to bust unions and their political power.
Mike Colletto, a lobbyist for the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, warned the bills are "going to create a firestorm" with members and suggested the group will target lawmakers who support the legislation come election time.
Arizona, a right-to-work state, does not collectively bargain with its employees, but other sectors of the government -- such as schools and local governments -- allow labor groups to negotiate pay and other benefits.
According to data provided by the state Department of Administration, about 15percent of the state's non-university state employees have union dues deducted out of their paychecks. The vast majority of deductions are for members of law-enforcement unions.
Supporters of the legislation said taxpayers are unfairly burdened by public workers' contracts negotiated by unions. Sen. Rick Murphy, R-Peoria, who introduced the collective-bargaining bill, Senate Bill 1485, said the state budget is "unsustainable."
Murphy said it's inappropriate when employees "take on the mantle of a public servant, then group up together and use leverage on the people they claim to serve."
"There needs to be a better balance," he added.
Other Republican senators echoed Murphy's comments. Lori Klein, R-Anthem, said the measures were not an attack on unions, but a "way of giving them more freedom so there can be flexibility."
The bills would ban withholdings of any portion of workers' wages to pay labor dues, ban third-party deductions from worker paychecks without annual authorization, and ban public employers from paying workers or third parties for union activities.
Representatives of the Goldwater Institute, who testified on behalf of the legislation, said the measures would make government more responsive to citizens by banning an unfair advantage that unions have. The Goldwater Institute estimated that over time, the state could save up to $550million per year based on an analysis of federal employment data from Virginia.
"This is about power and control of the public purse," Goldwater's Nick Dranias said.
But one union representative also suggested it has more to do with political power.
"I am a public servant -- not a public slave," said Frank Piccioli, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2960. "You want to get rid of collective bargaining because it's competition to your political agenda."
Sen. Steve Gallardo pointed out that local governments and school districts are not lobbying on behalf of the bill.
Gallardo said, "I think the question that every member of the Legislature needs to ask themselves going into the 2012 election is, 'Do you want to take on this fight?'"
- Yvonne Wingett Sanchez
Republic reporter Alia Beard Rau contributed to this article.
*As always, if you locate any Piccioli's Points in your daily searches that I have missed, please send them to me so I can add them!*
No comments:
Post a Comment