Proposals Called an Assault on Working Families and Their Rights
Two legislators' proposed changes to state labor laws
affecting local government employees, including teachers and education
support professionals, are nothing more than an attack on working families
and their right to bargain fair compensation, WEAC President Stan Johnson
said Wednesday (October 8, 2003).
"This is a thinly veiled attempt to erode the
rights of the people who keep our communities strong," Johnson
said. "The proposals from Sen. Ron Brown and Rep. Mark Gottlieb
would remove rights that workers have earned over the years. Politicians
should treat employees fairly instead of punishing them."
Johnson said the proposals are especially unfair to
teachers and education support professionals.
"This plan compounds the pain the Qualified Economic
Offer law has imposed on teachers," he said. "It takes away
traditional bargaining rights. Wisconsin needs to make the labor law
more fair to employees, not more punitive."
Johnson said local government employees are not the
cause of the state's economic problems.
"This proposal attempts to make scapegoats of
the thousands of dedicated workers throughout Wisconsin," Johnson
said. "This plan is not innovation and economic reform. It is a
continuation of a decade of attacks on educators and their rights to
have a say in policies that affect their wages, hours and conditions
of employment."
The proposals would:
- Require newly hired employees to contribute the first 3% of the
employee portion of their pension costs, as a non-bargainable contribution
(all current employees in the retirement system upon passage of the
bill will be grandfathered in and not have to make the contribution).
Johnson said singling out future employees to pay more toward their
retirement will discourage people from going into public service,
especially teaching.
- Limit "comparable" factors arbitrators can consider when
they choose between final offers (i.e. require employers to compare
the pay of employees with the pay of other workers - public and private
sector - within their own community, and not with other communities).
Johnson said the proposal defeats the purpose of using comparables.
He said the plan would lead to inequities.
- Require arbitrators to specify in writing the factors used in making
an award. Johnson said arbitrators already write their decisions,
so this idea is redundant.
- Restrict the awarding of back pay to disputes where the union's
offer is accepted. Johnson said the proposal would encourage employers
to drag out negotiations and settle late to avoid back pay. This idea
would discourage labor peace, according to Johnson.
- Let local governments privatize certain services and make that a
prohibited subject of bargaining. Johnson said this was a direct attack
on public institutions, including education. He said schools already
contract with private companies for services as they are needed.
- Make the selection of arbitrators random. Johnson said the current
system is fair: Each side has input on choosing an arbitrator.
Update: The bills have been introduced as SB 285 and SB 286.
You can access them through the
Legislature's Web site.
Posted October 8, 2003