By Sascha Cordner
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-966664.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Several Unions in Florida are accusing budget negotiators from both the House and Senate of trying to secretly add anti-union provisions in their budgets, just because they believe the bill that would ban the collection of union dues is not going to pass. Sascha Cordner reports the Senate Budget Chief addressed those concerns during the Senate Session on Monday to put those allegations to rest.
Republican Senator John Thrasher of Saint Augustine is sponsoring a bill that would stop public employee unions from collecting union dues through payroll deductions, and based on discussion from the Florida Senate, it will be brought back up for discussion this week. But, so far, the Senate has yet to reach a consensus on whether or not they think it will pass, because many lawmakers have issues with how the measure would ultimately stop union dues from being used for political purposes and would affect many unions across the state.
At this time, budget negotiators have working on a conforming bill, or Senate Bill 2094 which is supposed to settle collective bargaining issues between the Governor and the unions.
But, several union representatives say budget negotiators tried to "sneak in" the ban on union dues over the weekend in the budget conforming bill.
"This particular measure was brought up on Sunday night without any discussion or debate without any explanation of what was being done, and yet it had the potential to have a significant impact on hundreds of policeman, firefighters, and state employees, who are laboring for the state of Florida and we just don't think this is the way legislation should be enacted."
Ron Meyer is the Attorney for the Florida Education Association as well as other public employee unions. He says it's a troublesome thing when seeing the legislature secretly trying to use a conforming bill to pass legislation, like the "paycheck protection bill" which has nothing to do with Appropriations or the conforming bill itself.
But, Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos put a slight pause on Monday's Senate session, and says he wanted to make sure nothing got misconstrued, praising the work Senate Budget chief J-D Alexander had done so far.
"As you know, we're working very hard right now to complete a deal right now with the House on a balanced budget and our lead negotiator is of course Senator J.D. Alexander, and what I would like him to of is recognize him for a point of personal privilege because of some comments that have been made and I think it's every important that the Senator from the 17th takes the opportunity to express clearly what happened and what did not happen. So, Senator from the 17th, we thank you for your leadership and all you've done for the Senate this year."
After the Senate President's introduction, the Senate openly applauded Senator J.D. Alexander. The Republican Senator then addressed the accusations, saying it was an issue he had not foreseen because the Senate had already reached a consensus that they were not comfortable with Senator Thrasher's bill, also called the "paycheck protection" bill, as it currently stands.
"It has been alleged that in the conforming bill where we settle all outstanding union negotiation issues that we have somehow brought this issue into the conforming bill and, essentially overrode the consideration of the Senate. And, I'm here to tell you that is a stone cold, wrong statement, it is nothing but a misstatement, it isn't even close to being right."
Alexander went on to explain what it says in the Florida statute, Section 447-303 because he says it would take a change in this section of the statute to take away the right the unions are talking about.
"And, I'm speaking to payment protection in particular. Unless the Senate and another bill not in conference decides to address the issue differently, the bill coming on of these negotiations would not change existing law. And specifically, currently in Section 447-303 of Florida statutes, any employee organization which has been certified as a bargaining agent shall, SHALL, shall, SHALL not ambiguous at all, shall have the right to have its dues and uniform assessments deducted and collected by the employer from the salaries of those employees who authorize the assessment."
Ron Meyer with the Florida Education Association says all unions really want is some fairness with the way lawmakers are passing legislation, but that can't be done with secret deals.
"We believe that the process contemplates that there be bills vetted through committees, discussed, input taken, and then laws passed, not sneaking things of an anti-employee nature into conforming bills on Sunday night."
Meyer says if Thrasher's bill does pass, it would have a negative impact several hundred unions across the state.