Post by twinder on Feb 24, 2011 13:08:03 GMT -5
From the Sun Gazette;
Pa. labor groups vow to fight 'right-to-work' bill
February 24, 2011 - The Associated Press
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HARRISBURG - Organized labor leaders vowed Wednesday to bury any "right-to-work" ban on mandatory union membership in Pennsylvania, but said they are not worried that Gov. Tom Corbett will follow his Wisconsin counterpart's lead in advocating the repeal of collective bargaining rights for most public employees.
Right-to-work bills have been perennially introduced and rejected in Pennsylvania, and observers on both sides say the legislation faces an uphill climb this year. But the GOP takeover of the executive and legislative branches of Pennsylvania government and the explosive debate in Wisconsin over Republican Gov. Scott Walker's proposal has cast anti-union legislation in a new light.
Corbett's spokesman, Kevin Harley, said the governor would sign a right-to-work bill if the Legislature approved it.
"He believes that people should have a right of whether to join a union or not," Harley said Tuesday.
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale said the bill would weaken unions and, in turn, drive down the wages that unions negotiate for workers.
"We've got to kill it in the Legislature. We've got to drive a stake through its heart," Bloomingdale said.
David R. Fillman, executive director of Council 13 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - the largest state-employee union - shared Bloomingdale's dislike for the bill but was less worried about its prospects.
"I'm not concerned about it," he said. "Obviously, if the legislation gets some legs, we'll do everything we can to squash it."
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, who has unsuccessfully sponsored right-to-work bills in recent years, said he plans to revive his proposal to ban compulsory union membership or dues payments for workers in the public and private sectors.
He argued that the bill is a way for government to save Pennsylvanians money at no cost to taxpayers.
"I think the momentum on our side is there. It's building. It's still going to be an uphill battle," the Butler County Republican said.
Harley did not directly answer a reporter's question whether Corbett would sign a bill curtailing public employees' bargaining rights, but he said the governor is not proposing changes in the 1970 law that gave public workers the right to bargain collectively with their employers. Harley said Corbett intends to negotiate "in good faith" with the 17 unions whose contracts expire June 30.
Harley said he believes it is unlikely that legislation to drastically change bargaining rights would reach Corbett's desk.
"I don't think that a bill like that would have much of a chance," he said.
The labor leaders said they anticipate the looming contract talks to be difficult, given a projected deficit of at least $4 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1, but fair.
"From every indication we get from the Corbett administration, it's a given these are going to be difficult times, but the governor wants to sit down with us," said Fillman, whose union represents 45,000 of the roughly 75,000 state workers. "The draconian proposal in Wisconsin is not present in Pennsylvania."
"It's clear that he respects the process," Bloomingdale said of Corbett.
Corbett's spokesman, Kevin Harley, said the governor would sign a right-to-work bill if the Legislature approved it.
"He believes that people should have a right of whether to join a union or not," Harley said Tuesday.
Finally, something I can agree with Corbett about.
Pa. labor groups vow to fight 'right-to-work' bill
February 24, 2011 - The Associated Press
Save | Post a comment |
HARRISBURG - Organized labor leaders vowed Wednesday to bury any "right-to-work" ban on mandatory union membership in Pennsylvania, but said they are not worried that Gov. Tom Corbett will follow his Wisconsin counterpart's lead in advocating the repeal of collective bargaining rights for most public employees.
Right-to-work bills have been perennially introduced and rejected in Pennsylvania, and observers on both sides say the legislation faces an uphill climb this year. But the GOP takeover of the executive and legislative branches of Pennsylvania government and the explosive debate in Wisconsin over Republican Gov. Scott Walker's proposal has cast anti-union legislation in a new light.
Corbett's spokesman, Kevin Harley, said the governor would sign a right-to-work bill if the Legislature approved it.
"He believes that people should have a right of whether to join a union or not," Harley said Tuesday.
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale said the bill would weaken unions and, in turn, drive down the wages that unions negotiate for workers.
"We've got to kill it in the Legislature. We've got to drive a stake through its heart," Bloomingdale said.
David R. Fillman, executive director of Council 13 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - the largest state-employee union - shared Bloomingdale's dislike for the bill but was less worried about its prospects.
"I'm not concerned about it," he said. "Obviously, if the legislation gets some legs, we'll do everything we can to squash it."
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, who has unsuccessfully sponsored right-to-work bills in recent years, said he plans to revive his proposal to ban compulsory union membership or dues payments for workers in the public and private sectors.
He argued that the bill is a way for government to save Pennsylvanians money at no cost to taxpayers.
"I think the momentum on our side is there. It's building. It's still going to be an uphill battle," the Butler County Republican said.
Harley did not directly answer a reporter's question whether Corbett would sign a bill curtailing public employees' bargaining rights, but he said the governor is not proposing changes in the 1970 law that gave public workers the right to bargain collectively with their employers. Harley said Corbett intends to negotiate "in good faith" with the 17 unions whose contracts expire June 30.
Harley said he believes it is unlikely that legislation to drastically change bargaining rights would reach Corbett's desk.
"I don't think that a bill like that would have much of a chance," he said.
The labor leaders said they anticipate the looming contract talks to be difficult, given a projected deficit of at least $4 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1, but fair.
"From every indication we get from the Corbett administration, it's a given these are going to be difficult times, but the governor wants to sit down with us," said Fillman, whose union represents 45,000 of the roughly 75,000 state workers. "The draconian proposal in Wisconsin is not present in Pennsylvania."
"It's clear that he respects the process," Bloomingdale said of Corbett.
Corbett's spokesman, Kevin Harley, said the governor would sign a right-to-work bill if the Legislature approved it.
"He believes that people should have a right of whether to join a union or not," Harley said Tuesday.
Finally, something I can agree with Corbett about.
