Big Guns Want to Kill Police Unions
Ed. Note: Here are some excerpts from an editorial that recently appeared in a Nevada newspaper. They are emboldened by the newly elected Republicans in the House and Senate, many of whom promised to end public sector unions if they were elected. It’s going to be a rough year and we better get organized and fight back if there’s any hope of stopping them. Read some of the worst parts below. Check out the part where they recommend using ALEC’s language. You can read the full editorial at the link below.
“One of the biggest costs at just about every level of local government across the state of Nevada is personnel. Over the years our lawmakers have made it difficult to control those costs by making public employee union collective bargaining practically a mandate. Ending public employee unions entirely would be our first option, but short of that there are several steps that could be taken in the upcoming session of the Nevada Legislature.
“First, end binding arbitration. Under current law the local elected officials make a union contract offer and the union makes its own demands. If the two sides reach an impasse, which is too often the case in this post-recession, tight-money period, some out-of-state paid arbitrator who has never paid a dime in Nevada taxes and never will be affected by his or her decision decides which of the two final offers to impose.
“The arbitrator is not allowed to compromise between the two positions and frequently sides with higher union wage demands simply because the city or county or school district can “afford” it, whether it is fair and competitive with the private sector or not.
“Eliminating binding arbitration could save taxpayers millions of dollars.
“Lawmakers could cut and paste language from the American Legislative Exchange Council’s model bill on this topic: ‘Labor negotiations between government and government employees are an extension of the people’s business. … Since those negotiations deal with the public employer and public employees, taxpayers have a vested interest in the proceedings. … Taxpayers deserve to observe, monitor, and even participate in the processes by which public contracts are negotiated and awarded.’
“Public employee unions should collect their dues from their members and not have the government go to the trouble and expense of cutting a check to the unions for members’ dues. This makes the cost of union membership more obvious for the workers.
“Finally, the public employees should be required periodically to vote on which union, if any, is to represent them in collective bargaining. Perhaps more than a few public employees would rather stand on their own merits and compete for pay and benefits rather than settle for the same pay as union-protected laggards.”
READ MORE (if you can stomach it)
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